I’m UBER excited to announce something that I’m taking part in, and I want to involve YOU as well. Actually, to be successful, I need you to be involved! What is it? I thought you’d never ask…

Those of you that know me well know that I absolutely love Latin America and the Caribbean, and I’ve had the wonderful privilege to visit numerous places and have been welcomed into many homes and communities in my travels.

One place I’ve been several times is Sabana Cruz, Dominican Republic…a small village on the border of Haiti (the river that we “bathed” in actually forms the border between the countries). There were Haitians in that village, along with racial strife and tension because of their presence (much like the sentiment of some Americans towards Mexican immigrants). I remember the school principal’s daughter telling me about the Haitians and her native Spanish tongue. “Lo mataron,” she said to me forcefully. Such a little girl telling me that the Haitians had killed her language…made me wonder what the conversations around the dinner table in her house were.

The poverty in that little town was not unlike many other towns in the DR. It was painful to see our friends there struggling to get food and clean water, a clean place to go to the bathroom, and good medical care. The few teens that made it to the city for school or work usually did not return. Seeing that kind of poverty might make one wonder why the Haitians would cross over the border illegally, trying to make it past the armed guards standing on the river banks, and risking their lives in the process. One may wonder…unless, of course, if the situation in Haiti were much, much worse than that in the DR.

I’ve never had the chance to actually visit Haiti, but the earthquake that struck there a little over a month ago really rocked my heart. It is going to be a very long road to recovery for them, and I feel compelled to give and pray. And perhaps, someday, to go.

So, you’re still wondering….what is this “Photographers for Haiti” thing??? The details are posted here!

For now, here are a few shots from my last trip to the DR in 2006 (shot with film and scanned…forgive the quality).

The land in the background is Haiti. This little boy was carrying water from this dirty river back to his family…probably at least 1 or 2 miles away. When I chug a cool glass of water on a hot day, I think of my Dominican friends (where it’s hot every day) who struggle to find water during the dry half of the year.

Tags: dominican republic, haiti, Photography--People, Photography--Travel/Street