As a graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in English Literature, my background in writing poetry prepared me more for photography than I realized, as I had been “painting with words” for years. As soon as I put my husband's Canon SLR to my eye under his careful instruction a couple of years ago, it was as if at long last I heard a decisive click, Yes!

Although I was at first struck at the scope of the project in taking photographs for Tel-Hi, I never doubted my ability because I've always faced any challenge head on. In this case, through a series of visits over a three month period, I shot thousands of digital images capturing various aspects of Tel-Hi's Senior Program, Childhood Development Preschool Program, After School Academy, Expanded Learning Program, North Beach Place Teen Center, and Community Organizing and Planning. And I quickly felt more at ease than I ever could have imagined moving in and amongst the groups of individuals that made up Tel-Hi.

Early on in this project the “Faces of Tel-Hi” theme began to emerge. Rather than shooting the static photojournalistic shots of people in their environment I found that I couldn't resist getting caught up in the energetic mood of the staff, the easy smiles and the conversation offered by the seniors, the bright laughter and joy of the children. I soon found my hard drive filled to capacity with beaming faces and I knew I was onto something special; something that needed to be shown. I wanted to share the captured sense of “coming home” that I felt every time I passed through the doors of Tel-Hi;the wonderful sense of belonging I have  known here, whether it be shown in a picture of old friends chatting during a midday meal, a good stretch during an exercise class, a snack break while working on a homework assignment, or just a pair of happy smiles while coming down a slide at the playground.

I know that I am forever changed because I now have another place to call home; another family waiting to welcome me when I walk through the doors of Tel-Hi. And my hope is to leave the viewer with that same shared feeling of community when looking at these photographs.

PJ Taylor, Photographer