8 Billion Ones
The YOU MATTER Movement
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BACKSTORIES

Our “Backstories” share a deeper ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at some of our stories, exhibitions and experiences in the making. It gives a snapshot into the moments that collectively went into creating the work we get to do every day. Sometimes it’s a more intimate portrait of one of our team here at RB/8 Billion Ones, and sometimes it’s about one of our incredible story heroes. Regardless, it’s our way of showing you a little more transparency so you get to witness the magic in so many of these moments the way we do.

Art & People Changing Lives - The Road I Call Home Exhibit

Written by Larissa

Movement Director, Larissa

Movement Director, Larissa

“Art cannot change the world, but it can contribute to changing the consciousness and drives of the people who could change the world.”  - Herbert Marcus

“The very first story I read on 7billionones.org years ago was a moment I didn’t even realize at the time that would change my life forever. I spent hours reading story after story, I cried a lot, felt so many emotions, and then knew I had to do something about it...I knew that somehow, I was being inspired to take action, that I had to do everything I could do make a difference in people’s lives, to be involved with 7 Billion Ones in some way, and I had to meet more people and hear their stories. Years later, today I am honored and overjoyed when people ask me what I do, and I tell them that I let people’s authentic selves wreck my world (in a really good way) every single day through the power of stories and portrait photography. The Road I Call Home exhibit holds a very special place in my heart and no matter how many times I have seen the portraits, re-read the stories, or how much time we’ve spent with our storytellers featured in this exhibit, there is so much raw honesty, beauty, perspective and love in those images and stories - in the people - that they never fail to keep reminding me of the importance of telling people that they have inherent worth, that we all have the power to change the world, that we are already enough exactly as we are today. Every single person and story has the power to greatly impact someone’s life, to inspire ourselves and others to change the world, and to love people and ourselves without judgement, but with unconditional compassion and empathy.

The portrait images featured in The Road I Call Home of our homeless friends are so much more than art and stories. We want to bring dignity, hope and healing to each individual featured and it has been our true honor to know them and that they have chosen to be a part of something that changes lives for the better. Our friends are invited to our upcoming exhibit event night during First Friday Art Walk on April 6th from 6:30-8pm that is open to the public and we hope you can stop by to meet our storytellers, experience the portrait, stories and film of our homeless friends, and say hello! Invite your friends and if you aren’t in town for this event, the exhibit is still up for public viewing during the week until April 20th. You can also read dozens of stories from The Road I Call Home here.

We hope to see you there and hear how you are inspired to make a difference in the world around you."

Randy BaconComment