A trip from one world to another.

When Jessie and Aparna approached me with the notion of driving from London to Cameroon for charity, I was among many who laughed at the seemingly crazy idea. However, my amusement quickly gave way to serious thought. I have contributed to charities before but really only know these regions through news and images from intermediary parties. How could embracing the opportunity to engage firsthand with the politics, landscapes, and recipients of this aid be a crazy idea? This adventure is not just a sight seeing trip, but a chance for interaction with the people of these countries by asking for directions, taking local food, and probably flagging down a passerby to help fix the air filter.

So I choose to embrace. With an adventurous nature and predilection towards new experiences, I enjoy discovering and taking on the differences I find between myself and others. This attitude has taught me repeatedly that without acceptance of the unknown, personal growth is severely stunted.

I have lived the big cities of this country and have found myself exposed to an incredible range of ethnicities and backgrounds, and believe that seeing some of the source points of my multicultural worldview will enhance my community experience at home. Seeing the life I live from the other side of the world will open my eyes, and in my line of work a global vantage is invaluable. Born and raised in Chicago, I received a liberal arts education in Los Angeles, and now reside in New York City editing commercials and documentaries. This medium is the filter through which I experience my life – be it in foreign lands or simply walking down the street in Brooklyn. It is my goal that not only will my skills and discipline as an editor strengthen our journey to Africa but that this voyage will come back with me and shape my values, ethics, and creative aesthetic.

While film/documentary editing is a very creative field, being able to use this to affect change by inspiring your audience to action requires more than just creativity. In this way, I am to fulfill two very important parts of life: self-expression and helping others express themselves. Helping others is an integral part of the values of my upbringing, and to combine this with my personal artistic aspirations is the fulcrum of my desire to join this team. The challenge of using our ingenuity to chart our course in this race appeals to my adventurous nature, but using that energy to instigate charity in those who contribute is the true allure. It is not just for us three in the tiny car or the others on the same road, but the idea of a network of people empowering people that connects everyone on the planet.

If you have any ideas, feel free to contact me and just check back soon for updates.