Artist Statement: For thirty years I have been photographing the life of Alameda County, with an emphasis on the multicultural and multiethnic richness of the area. My task has been to understand and depict the myriad ways various communities give meaning and value to all of our lives. The workers and weddings, gardens, births and birthday parties, musicians and mommies, institutions and street life—all are my subjects.

What drew me to submit work to be displayed in the Highland Hospital Critical Care & Clinics Building, is my strong belief that we need to look more closely at one another, appreciate each other, and celebrate and learn from our unique perspectives. Perhaps looking closely at images of our neighbors will give us an avenue towards real community. To that end, Highland, is a much better place to do this than a small private gallery. It attracts a bigger and more diverse crowd, a captive audience, with more time to study the photos as they wait for their appointments, or walk down long hallways to visit loved ones. Finally, Highland, a place of healing, is a most appropriate venue for often marginalized people to see images of themselves that reflect their strength and resilience.