On April 22 Marian House celebrated its 40th anniversary of helping women move from dependence to independence. The organization wanted to showcase five alumnae — Connie, Kim, Earnestine, Tyona and Veronica. Having done other pro bono work for Marian House I was happy to create these portraits for them.
We did a couple of sessions at the Marian House location, one at R. House, the food hall in Remington, and one in my own neighborhood. The goal was to highlight these women’s success in achieving an independent life. They were all radiant. Some were a little nervous at being in front of the camera, but their pride and happiness overcame any temporary self-consciousness. Connie was decidedly not nervous having her photo taken. In fact, she mentioned that she is interested in working as a mature model!
Founded in 1982 as a joint project of the Sisters of Mercy and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Marian House is a holistic, healing community for women and their children who are in need of housing and support services. The organization provides a safe, sober, and loving environment that challenges women to respect and love themselves, confront emotional and socioeconomic barriers, and transition to stable and independent lives. To see photos of the Marian House 40th anniversary gala, visit Marian House gala.
