Here’s another new portrait from the Warriors for Peace series.  This one is of Liam Madden, an Iraq War veteran living in Boston, MA.  It was a real pleasure to meet and hang out with Liam and the other members of IVAW Boston that he lives with.  I loved the message that we decided to include in Liams photo- “Evolve into Love” which just happened to be drawn on combat paper (paper made from the pulp of his uniform).  It is so fitting, so grounding, so simple and just a perfect phrase, goal, call to action and request for all of us.  It really does seem to be Liam’s mantra.  And I might just have to add it to my list of mantra’s as well.  I mean really, what else are we really here for anyway?  Shouldn’t that be the ultimate goal? And if yes, than shouldn’t we be making it more of a priority?  Check out Liam’s story and portrait below and feel free to share your thoughts.

Liam Madden was a “good Marine” who graduated the top of his class. However, the Iraq war, which he served in as a sergeant from 2004 to 2005, prompted his search for explanations for who wielded power in this world and why it appeared so deceitful and brutal. He became dedicated to speaking out and spent three years… as a peace activist, including time as the chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War’s board of directors, co-founder of Appeal for Redress, and appearing on countless media outlets including CNN, Keith Olberman, and 60 Minutes. Liam now believes peace comes from within. “I am left with the conviction that the infinite, all encompassing energy of love is the only reality and all else is an illusion derived from the insane belief that we are separate from each other.”
Liam Madden, Iraq War Veteran, Boston, MA

In addtion to the Warriors for Peace series, I’ve begun another new project documenting the growth of a community garden space at a halfway house here in Denver.  A couple months ago I ran into an old friend who told me about the program.  She told me the vision was to work with the ex-criminals and felons to not only create a community garden at the halfway house but to include nutrition and gardening classes, to form a non-profit they could be involved with as they re-enter society, give them job training in an emerging field, and in a sense, give them potential they could believe in and a sense of worth.  The long term vision includes a farm they could work at when they leave the halfway house and starting gardens at other halfway houses and prisons.  Needless to say, two days later I called up my friend and told her I would love to document the project.  I’m a sucker for any story that includes personal transformation and an acknowledgment of our collective humanity.  The images below are from the first time I went. It was the first day they broke ground and started planting the dozens of plants that were donated by local farms and gardens. The piece of land they were given for the garden was an amazingly barren plot with some of the poorest dirt I could imagine growing food in. As a gardener myself, I was sceptical. There optimism was enthusiastic though and  It’s been inspiring so far to say the least.  More coming soon, and eventually a multimedia piece.  Enjoy.