The Occupy Portraits: A Photo Essay

venice, california 21 february 2012 Occupy Venice invited me to their GA to share some stories from across the country. I tried to describe my experience of going to a city I’d never been to, where I did not know a soul, and just by showing up at an Occupy gathering, was able to rely on the fact that I would be welcomed - my need for a meal or a place to stay taken care of. How to explain the idea that I could simply put my name on a list and be added to the stack of people awaiting their turn to share questions, concerns, or observations at a weekly meeting I was attending for my first time - feeling of more value to a group of strangers than to some of those I’ve known all my life? The extended family of Occupy working toward securing change in our communities on lo- cal, national, and international levels is generating a river of optimism that continues to gain momentum. Yesterday I bought my plane ticket to attend NOW DC (National Occupation of Washington DC) in a few weeks on 30 March for what some people are calling the American Spring. We’re all invited.