By Palmares Bustamante

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A brief essay detailing the inspiration, backstory, and goals of the Liminal Photography Project in collaboration with Lead360.

An issue that I would like to address is lack of resources for lower income, immigrant, and single parent households. As someone who was raised by a single mother, I have become involved in many communities with similar struggles, as well as seen the barriers that children from marginalized families face first hand. 

One of the biggest issues I have noticed with my background is that families from underprivileged communities rarely get the opportunity to feel appreciated or free from responsibility. In an effort to support the family, many adults sacrifice getting to have free time, and many children sacrifice having a childhood free from worry or responsibility. I think that getting to have precious moments and memories as a family is not something that is considered a luxury, rather a necessity that should be offered to everyone. Every family should have the opportunity to bond, create, and feel special. 

One reason that I am incredibly passionate about this is from a mental health perspective. I am very interested in the study of psychology, and how using it as a lens can be a tool to help the community. Being able to provide a communal and peaceful moment for families with little support and down time can be incredibly beneficial for them. Building up stress among a family unit can lead to anger, resentment, and even separation within the family. Giving people the ability to take a breath and truly appreciate the moment that they are in, as well as process the difficulties could lead to a happier and healthier community. 

Many people don’t realize that by doing help like this, one is creating a generational effect. Helping or hurting one generation can create a ripple effect, altering the actions and beliefs of the next generations. By creating a safe space for multigenerational bonding and communication, it ensures that we build an empathetic and respectful relationship between generations. In the long term, this means that not only will the next generation in the community have strong ties to their family, and thus hold familial values like loyalty and communication. It also means that by building this healthy relationship, families could put more attention and care into preserving the culture and traditions, making our city more diverse and cross-cultural. 

As a latina and black woman, I have realized just how important it is to me that I preserve my roots and my culture. Being able to practice and improve my Spanish is something that I have been prioritizing since I began attending high school. Part of this stems from my relationship with my mother and how it has strengthened through sharing a coffee, painting together, and having these small moments that many families are not able to have. This kind of connection is crucial to understanding and growth as a mother daughter bond. 

I believe that many people that come from the typical family structure might not appreciate this kind of goal. The amount of time, effort, and sacrifice that is required to raise children is only heightened by being in a more demanding circumstance. Some might not understand the importance of making a peaceful community solution using the ideas of art and craftivism. Protest is not always about marching or rioting, but there is also a more quiet form of systemic protesting. By building a space like this,we are helping the underprivileged communities from the inside out. People underestimate the importance of being able to create art as a family, afford a homecoming or prom dress, and even have a family portrait taken. It is these small memories that are often sacrifices that can make all the difference.