sisterhood and dreaming

photo by our Target cheerleader and photographer, Chris Sneddon

i've been thinking a lot lately about dreams. In fact, my head has been spinning with them.

Camp SS, reignited my dreaminess….. I feel like my dreams have taken on a whole new life. And the best part .... I am no longer dreaming alone. What I discovered at camp is the power of sisterhood. I have never really experienced anything like it. Suddenly something I thought I didn't need, has become something I can't live without.

I witnessed Camp Sisterhood in so many ways….. 

• I watched as Tracey, Jen and Myriam took the power of their sisterhood and made all kinds of magic. Honestly, you could feel their collective energy. It was beautiful.
• I watched friendships form amongst strangers….big and awesome friendships…. It was beautiful.
• I watched blood sisters share the Camp experience together and admittedly felt a little ache inside…. a little sister longing…. It was beautiful.
• I listened to women share their deepest of deep feelings…. their fears and insecurities… they put them all out there. And as they shared, I felt the deepest connection with them. It was beautiful.
• I discovered that sisterhood is powerful. That when women come together, HUGE things can happen. And my oh my, It was beautiful!

Even the littlest of things become important….in the 'sisterhood'…..

I just have to share a camp side story….

I was so determined to get to Target while in the U.S. We do not have Target in Canada, and I really wanted to go. I mentioned it to Xanthe….and she was completely on board. (no Target's in the UK, either) 
But there were a few obstacles in our way.

We didn't have a car....and even if we did, there was no way I was driving. So we needed a car and a driver.

Camp was busy. There were really only tiny windows of time that all of us could make it work.
We had to time our trip, just right.

But, we were determined not to let these obstacles get in our way.

Chris was completely up for it….and willing to taxi us. Have I thanked you for that Chris? I couldn't believe Chris was willing to take us to Target! She has one right across the street from her house. (seriously, so jealous of Chris. Can you imagine?). Paige had a car and she generously offered it to us. Thank you Paige.

Mission Target, became a bit of camp buzz. As I would move about camp, many lovelies would ask… 'did you get to Target? Seriously, you don't have a Target? You gotta get to Target!!' 

We were on a mission…..

Day one went by, no Target, Day 2… no Target…. Then, oh my gosh…. two lovely sisters came to me….with a Target gift card, the afternoon of day 2. It was the sweetest thing. I just could not believe it. Thank you Jen and Brit. You two are both so darn lovely! Target, had to happen!! After all, I could not use my gift card at home. Right?!

And so, as the days progressed, the urgency to get to Target grew stronger, and, finally, a window for Target-time opened! Oh no… no car!! Paige's car was out and about! What? Seriously.... NO!!? Enter.... beautiful Laura!! She's like, 'I can drive you to Target?' I felt terrible, that this sweet woman would have to leave the wonderful 'camp-bubble' to drive us to Target. But, we had to get there!! And so….off we went! Laura as the driver, Chris as the navigator and photographer….Xanthe and I in the back, bursting to get there!!  

We laughed and skipped and oo'ed and awed.....Oh my gosh… watching Xanthe's Target experience was so much fun! Chris followed along with her PEN, taking photos. Laura, gave us her best Target shopping advice. Xanthe bought the cutest 'jumper'...EVER...and tons of American candy to take home to her beautiful boys. I found several fabulous treasures, including a lovely sweater jumper. Thank you Jen and Brit.

It was a sisterhood moment, FOR SURE! The Target dream became a reality…a lovely camp memory. It all happened because of the sisterhood…cheering us on. I realize now, dreams, both big and small, are so much better when shared with sisters.

Today, I am so grateful to sit here…. now part of a sisterhood… a part of something, I had no idea I was missing.
Here's to shared dreams and sisterhood.

This sisterhood thing is all so new to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you experienced the sisterhood? Are you longing for it? Have you been part of a sisterhood moment, that has left you wanting more or maybe completely changed? Share with us today.

 It's Friday!!! Hello Canvas is thrilled to celebrate our sisterhood by giving away another free canvas via thier facebook page! Go upload a sisterly photo for your chance to win!

sign of the times

We are living in interesting times here in the United States. This is the first time in my adult memory that there have been continuous public demonstrations by a significant number of people across the country resisting and challenging the status quo. Occupy Wall Street has taken on a life of its own and spread to many other cities and towns and neighborhoods.

As an activist photographer, I have been watching the Occupy phenomenon here in Chicago and documenting when I can. I hear a lot of talk about how we are the 99% who are being oppressed by the top 1%.  And while that may be technically true, I know that within that broad category of the 99%, oppression is not experienced in the same way or equally. People of color, women, those who are queer/trans, undocumented immigrants, people with disabilities, those who are homeless or in prison--these people experience oppression differently from those who come from privileged backgrounds.

As we ponder on being thankful this month, I would challenge us to also recognize the various privileges we benefit from, whether we are conscious of them or not. If we're going to live like we are all in this together (like the sign in the photo states), we need to see that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

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As photographers, we have the opportunity to document and share with the world the work that is happening within our own communities, whether it's a rally or protest against injustice, the occupation of public space, or the everyday hard work of community organizers and residents. Please share with us today your stories and/or images of those who work in love and struggle in your own communities so that we can be reminded that we are, indeed, all in this together.