At the time those pictures traveled all over the world and that night was the first time they would be shown in the US. It blew me away, to say the least. My picture was the most viewed and the most liked.
I had been homeless for six years and felt useless to everyone in my life. I was approached by a man who introduced himself as Aaron Draper, a professor at Chico State University. He had a photography business in San Francisco and was working on a project called “Underexposed.” It featured pictures and interviews of homeless people. He asked me if I would be interested in taking part in it. At first I was skeptical. After he explained it, I told him I’d take part and allowed him to take photos and interview me. We parted ways and I didn’t think much more about it. Several years later, I saw my picture on the front page of the Chico News and Review Newspaper, stating that the Jesus Center in Chico California was conducting a fundraiser. I contacted the paper, who in turn, contacted Aaron Draper. He then came to pick me up for the fundraiser. I, of course, was very honored to say the least. At the time those pictures traveled all over the world and that night was the first time they would be shown in the US. It blew me away, to say the least. My picture was the most viewed and the most liked. They went viral almost instantly along with the videos on YouTube called Underexposed, and The Faces of The Homeless. When the dinner took place I was extremely honored and very emotional. With Aaron’s help, compassion and love for the project, people who view the website and watch the video look at homeless people in a different frame of mind, with understanding and more compassion in their eyes and hearts.
