Katie Fesperman
Katie Fesperman
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This photo was created to symbolize family in Philadelphia. It was assembled by fusing together three separate images of a mother and her two daughters. The photo is objectively clunky and imperfect. The backgrounds are misaligned and mismatched. The hair does not fall fluidly throughout the photo, and all of that is by design.
Families are not meant to be picture perfect. They are inherently clunky and unpolished. They are found, chosen, and biological. We work everyday to navigate and understand them which helps us form a beautiful existence together, one where we can find love and create lasting bonds that push us through and on.
I wanted to take a closer look at families in Philadelphia by talking to one of Philadelphia’s very own community members, and mother of two. The woman I spoke with (we’ll call her Ash) was born and raised in Philadelphia. She currently works at Educators 4 Education (E4E) which is how we met. She began working at E4E about five years ago. She’s worked in the Philadelphia school district for many years, and when the opportunity to be a part of E4E came along, she jumped at it. During the summer, many kids don’t have a place to go. Their parents or guardians have to work, and many cannot afford to send their kids to summer camps or participate in other youth programs. As a way to help kids get “off the streets,” E4E helps provide professional development opportunities for kids by finding them ways to earn money and gain work experience over the summer. Ash did this exact program when she was 14, and again when she was 16 years old. She plans to enroll her daughters as well when they are eligible.
As a single mother of two, Ash understands firsthand how difficult parenting can be. All of Ash’s work revolves around kids. At the school district, she works with kids who have been labeled as having behavioral problems. At E4E, she works to get kids ready to be successful in the workforce. At home, she works to keep her own girls fed, bathed, entertained, and happy.
When Ash was 18, she gave birth to her oldest daughter. Many people around her looked down on her. They doubted her and her ability to be a successful mother. Despite the disbelievers, Ash went on to graduate high school, community college, and is now on her way to receiving a certification in special education. “All it takes is for someone to take a leap of faith with you and show that they care.” For all of the children and adolescents that Ash works with, she wants to be the one to take that leap of faith- to show kids that they are loved and cared for.
By reproducing this love and care, we can create generational effects that will bind us together and push us towards greatness.
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