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AFDC
Untold Stories: Families Receiving Welfare
This project grew out of the recognition by a group of women photojournalists that media coverage of welfare and its reform has been largely limited to the views of the politicians and government administrators. Missing are the voices of the recipients themselves.
Beth Reynolds, Christine Breslin, Joanne Ciccarello, Jane Tyska, Paula Lerner, Heather Pillar and Wendy Mimran each photographed an AFDC Family for over a year. This project is now a traveling exhibition with over 100 images.
This is the story of Laura, mother of Malique and Dineja.
Laura admits to making some wrong turns early in life. At 27, she is a full-time student at the local community college and a "welfare mom." Laura does not want welfare to be a way of life.
"Check day" for Laura means having a friend drive her to the bank and to all the stores she needs to get to because she does not have a car.
Laura and her children live in Federal housing project. The children are not allowed to wander from the perimeter of the apartment. Laura wants to be a positive voice for other AFDC moms and let them know they can succeed.
Laura's mother watches the children while she is in school. Laura is studying for her A.A. degree and hopes to work in the justice system someday.
