I have been a photojournalist since 1997 in Northwest Pennsylvania. I was recently laid off from The Derrick and News-Herald. Call it muscle-memory, call it a need. Call it a calling.... but I just can't stop.
As soon as I heard the word pink slip from my editors lips, my mind went to ... ok.... what's next then?
I feel this is an opportunity for me to tune my game, to reach out and tell stories about our community that need to be told - those stories that may fall under the radar during the daily grind of newspapering.
I love local newspapers and will continue to support my colleagues.
We are all in this together.
News and storytelling is what helps us define who we are as humans, and, in small areas, as a community. Each place has its own flare, its own overall feel, its own identity.
I've loved tapping into that and, hopefully, through storytelling, explaining it to a broader audience.
I am embarking on this little journey of this new website, not knowing where it will take me. Knowing I can't sit back feeling sorry for myself about being let go from a job that I love I must move forward..
It's not a job, it's a calling... I'm not done yet!
This Sunday, I will post at least one story. If filing for unemployment, figuring out health insurance and other real life matters don't take up too much time, perhaps I'll have more than one story to share.
During this scary time of a virus we can't really understand, I hope we all understand one thing....we are in this together.
And we all have stories to share.
Today I took the time to meet up with an incredibly uplifting human being, who has the future in mind way beyond tomorrow. This is the kind of stories I hope to share!
As soon as I heard the word pink slip from my editors lips, my mind went to ... ok.... what's next then?
I feel this is an opportunity for me to tune my game, to reach out and tell stories about our community that need to be told - those stories that may fall under the radar during the daily grind of newspapering.
I love local newspapers and will continue to support my colleagues.
We are all in this together.
News and storytelling is what helps us define who we are as humans, and, in small areas, as a community. Each place has its own flare, its own overall feel, its own identity.
I've loved tapping into that and, hopefully, through storytelling, explaining it to a broader audience.
I am embarking on this little journey of this new website, not knowing where it will take me. Knowing I can't sit back feeling sorry for myself about being let go from a job that I love I must move forward..
It's not a job, it's a calling... I'm not done yet!
This Sunday, I will post at least one story. If filing for unemployment, figuring out health insurance and other real life matters don't take up too much time, perhaps I'll have more than one story to share.
During this scary time of a virus we can't really understand, I hope we all understand one thing....we are in this together.
And we all have stories to share.
Today I took the time to meet up with an incredibly uplifting human being, who has the future in mind way beyond tomorrow. This is the kind of stories I hope to share!
Laura Jones has a moment of levity as she and her husband, Dennis, pack up her car with 26 years worth of supplies from her GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) program. Dennis joked that when they bought the house in Franklin that it was a four bedroom house, but he has only been able to locate two of them. With Laura giving a new home to the majority of her GEMS materials for the next generation, the rooms will again become available. He said they won't become a man-cave. The two are very active in the next chapter of "life thinking," so they might be filled again.
Laura Jones, who started the GEMS program over 25 years ago, posted on social media Thursday that she was doing a "tour de Venango County" to drop off supplies. She posted that it was "a diaspora of 26 years of GEMS supplies and curricula." I got excited and called her. "Can I come photograph this?" I asked.
This educator is passing her gift of learning to those willing to take it on. I wanted to document this.
GEMS stands for Girls Excelling in Math and Science. Jones started the program prior to moving to Venango County and it has since spread throughout the world.
Over the years, she has stockpiled supplies and lessons that she is now distributing to the classrooms around the county. She wants to ensure the next generation of GEMS teachers are prepared to help their young ones excel.
In her social media post, Jones said, she's trying to retire. But anyone who knows her knows she isn't about to stop.
She is hoping others take the reigns of GEMS so she can move on to the next thing that will help young learners grow.
This educator is passing her gift of learning to those willing to take it on. I wanted to document this.
GEMS stands for Girls Excelling in Math and Science. Jones started the program prior to moving to Venango County and it has since spread throughout the world.
Over the years, she has stockpiled supplies and lessons that she is now distributing to the classrooms around the county. She wants to ensure the next generation of GEMS teachers are prepared to help their young ones excel.
In her social media post, Jones said, she's trying to retire. But anyone who knows her knows she isn't about to stop.
She is hoping others take the reigns of GEMS so she can move on to the next thing that will help young learners grow.
Jones heads out on her "tour de Venango County," to drop off her supplies to the next generation of GEMS leaders.
Jones first stop was to Valley Grove Elementary School Friday. She had a stop in several schools throughout the day to give away her years of supplies.
Photographs by Richard Sayer
RSS Feed