The cameras may be disposable, but the images captured are snapshot treasures of life in New Orleans. A group of Bastion residents and Headway members recently participated in a photo project, which became part of an exhibit at a New Orleans gallery. 
 
Fanny Garcia, who is an artist/photographer based in Oakland, California and had previously worked with Headway members, presented a disposable camera workshop to Bastion veterans via Zoom earlier this year. Garcia thought the disposable cameras would work well because of the simple point and shoot instructions and their being lightweight, allowing the user to focus exclusively on what they’re shooting. Garcia is a US Army veteran and feels that helps her connect with Bastion community members.
 
“It helps build trust and comfortability,” Garcia says. “It’s really special.”

After the workshop, participants went into their neighborhoods and communities to shoot photos. The results were impressive, and through her connections with New Orleans Photo Alliance, Garcia had the photos showcased in the “Disposable Camera Project” which ran at the alliance’s gallery for the first two weeks of April. At the exhibit opening, many of our vets including Wilbert Young, Jeannie Morin, Dennis Delhom, Benjamin LeBoeuf and Marvin Belisle, were proudly standing by their framed work and answering questions. 
 
Garcia hopes to return to Bastion soon to teach another photo workshop on light painting.  
 
 
                                                  

The Bastion team along with our partners from Southeast Louisiana Building & Construction Trades Council and Deidre “Dee” Hall from Dee’s Coffee recently unveiled our new coffee cart. Due to the pandemic, the cart's design and construction took longer than usual, but as Bastion Founder and Executive Director Dylan Tête pointed out, it was worth the wait.

"We've been dreaming about this day for a long time. This is the culmination of a purpose to bring people together, build community and build skills. And it's right here in the Purple Heart Room in the center of Bastion," said Tête.

The trades council donated the cart, which was built by Vulk Fabrication. The cart will be used for vocational skills training by our veterans in the Headway Program. Headway's Occupational Therapist Rachel Schwenk and OT LSU Intern Julia Brantley will be leading trainings along with barista/coffee shop owner Hall, who also helped with the cart's design .