Popcoverjan 9issue

What's Your Story?

Meet The People of Pensacola

by Sarah McCartan

January 9, 2014

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What's Your Story?

Dancers.

Veterans.

Police officers.

Heroes.

Homeless.

Gospel singers.

Natives.

Immigrants.

Those who seem to have it all.

Those who may have lost it all.

They are “The People of Pensacola.”

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W

hat started out as a simple Facebook page created with the intention of remaining small in scale and being shared amongst friends has erupted into a bustling social community, gaining more than 3,000 followers in just over a month.

The idea is simple: sharing street portraits along with honest and simple stories from the people of Pensacola.

“I expected it to be a project my close friends would be interested in,” said the founder of The People of Pensacola (POP) Facebook page. “When it spread so fast, I was quite taken aback. Now I run into people on the street and people ask me [when they see my camera], ‘Are you the People of Pensacola guy?’”

Although familiar with larger scale, wellestablished projects in bigger cities throughout the country, from the very beginning the idea of POP was to dig below the surface of the exterior. “[If you look around] there are a number of pages like this around the country.

I don’t know if there are any more original ideas,” he said with a laugh. “I saw Humans

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

of New York at the beginning when it was just photographs. Then I noticed around the time I became interested in doing this, he began doing questions. I wanted to go a little bit deeper, get a bit more personal and try and get actual stories and bios from people —something that takes me beyond the surface of the photos and makes the photos more interesting.”

POP includes photos and excerpts from a diverse mix of people who are part of our community. People who have stories to tell that uplift, inspire or perhaps challenge us with heightened perspective. People we pass by every single day. People that remind us we are all part of the human experience and have commonalities in battles and triumphs we face that speak to the human condition.

The individuals featured are primarily found around the downtown area, discovered by simply walking and talking throughout the day.

“I typically stay downtown. Downtown is so walkable and pedestrian friendly, it makes it easier for me,” he said, as he rattled off places he frequents, including Palafox corridor, DeLuna Plaza and Maritime and Veterans parks.

“I walk and look for people who have an interesting look about them.”

Each approach typically begins with a simple question: “Do you mind if I take a photo of you?” he asks politely.

“I make it about them and not as though I am looking to gain anything. You have to approach it cautiously,” he explained. “I ask if I can take their photo, and 90 percent of the time they are fine with it. From there I strike up a conversation, ‘Are you from here?’ Then I segue into other key questions.”

What are these key questions?

A few prime questions that typically come into play and get the conversations flowing include: What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened in your life?

What struggles are you facing?

While the struggles certainly vary from person to person, there are common struggles amongst the homeless population that rise to the surface, including the basic needs of survival. The posts featuring members of Pensacola’s homeless population have garnered an especially powerful response on the page.

“What I’ve noticed — on the homeless posts — there are so many people who have emailed me that want to help. It’s created a reaction. There are folks out there who are hurting, who are hungry and all these people are very willing to help.”

Several of these homeless parties he has kept in contact with reside at Wayside Park. Based on the response from the page he has returned to speak with them again, and worked with those who desire to offer assistance.

Still, those featured are certainly not limited to the homeless population. The page includes individuals from all walks of life, including plenty who have years and years of stories to tell, or “lifetimes of walking history,” as the founder explained.

Although from the page it appears many are willing to open up, that’s not always the case. And not everyone has a story to tell.

“I talk to a large number of people every day. Not everyone has a story and is willing to open up quite as much. Some don’t open up at all, past a photo. Other won’t offer even that,” he said.

“It’s an exercise in resilience. Some shrug me off. They may be having a bad day or don’t want to talk to anyone right now. I just keep on going and move to next person.”

What keeps him doing the project? On top of finding the stories and the 3,000 fans, he finds the experience uplifting.

“I find it absolutely fascinating and fun.

It’s an exercise in patience — no question about that — but a fun challenge.”

While the project is based around “street” stories, there has been such a response that only time will tell how the project will continue to grow and morph. inweekly.net

What's Your Story?

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

Some of the Stories

Presently there are around 100 people featured on The People of Pensacola Facebook page. The following stories are a sample and introduction of what you will find on the page. We selected these particular stories because they evoked various emotions and left us feeling inspired and humbled. One even made us laugh out loud.

To view these plus the rest of the stories and become a part of this ever-growing community, visit facebook.com/ Humansofpensacola.

“I

“I

worked for St. Regis Paper Company for 37 years. I am 96-years-old. My old legs and knees give me fits, but thank the Lord it could be worse. I still drive my truck and live on my own."

am homeless and have H.I.V. My own family doesn't want me around anymore. A good day for me is when someone shows me a small kindness."

What is the secret to a long life?

"Be thankful every day."

“I

am in my late 60s and have been a cleaning lady for the past 25 years. My proudest accomplishment is that I just graduated college and got my degree in early education. You are never too old.

Education stimulates the mind.”

W

hat are you thankful for?

"I'm thankful that after 40 years of marriage, we still have each other."

January 9, 2014

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hat is your biggest regret?

"Drinking. Drinking cost me my job and my home. In the late 1970s I was an award winning runway model, but alcohol took everything from me. I still look for happiness one day at a time."

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What's Your Story?

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

H

ow are you today sir? May I take your photo and have a chat with you if you are not busy?

"You aren't going to ask me to smile or any of that kind of shit, are you?"

No sir. I'm on your time. You do whatever you like.

"I am about to find me a place to sit in the sun and smoke my pipe, so sit down."

Yes sir.

Plaza Ferdinand. I would always carry one of them store bags to pick up my dog's crap. My dog did his business so I picked up his crap and put it the bag. I was walkin' across the park and some hoodlum ran up behind me, snatched my bag, and took off runnin' with it. I didn't holler at him or anything cause I knew what the idiot had just stolen. I just wish I could have seen the look on his face when he opened that bag."

"You want to hear a funny story? I used to walk my dog in

“IÂ

am a retired journalist and covered the Supreme Court for over 50 years.

In the 1950s, I rode in motorcades with and covered President Eisenhower. In those days, only a couple of Secret Service Agents rode in the motorcade, and they always got fretful about crossing covered bridges. Since I retired, I work on a blog that covers the Supreme Court. I sit in the press room during Supreme Court Cases and cover them on my blog." (SCOTUSblog.com)

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(I found out after talking to this gentleman, that he is an author, professor and legal journalist. He does commentary on National Public Radio and is referred to as "Dean Emeritus of the Supreme Court Press Corps," and he enjoys the singular distinction of being the only person to earn a plaque in the Supreme Court press room.)

inweekly.net

What's Your Story?

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

“I

live in the woods. I have a small camp, and I take care of my cats. I spend the day collecting cans, and I usually make about seven to eight dollars. On a good day I make 10. I find food in dumpsters for my cats. I found them some really good chicken this morning." (Shows me a takeout food box with leftover chicken.)

"They are going to be so happy to see me."

"I miss small things like having a nice hot shower and clean socks."

What do you think most people think about the homeless?

"That we are no good."

How does that make you feel?

(After a long pause, tears began streaming down his face) "I try not to pay attention to it, but it's hard. I'm still person, same as anybody else."

What is the most difficult part about being homeless?

“M

y entire upper body is essentially one tattoo. They are all feminine and flowery structures."

Do you get negative reactions?

"Very much so. But as I have grown older, I have discovered that it is better to cover them and let people judge you for your brain and what you are actually bringing to the table.

Then I expose them later on. It is usually kind of a shock to people. I am a professional, but the tattoos do not hinder my career,

January 9, 2014

but I have been not been hired at places because of them.”

Do you find that discriminatory?

"It is, but I understand in some businesses you have to be aesthetically pleasing and cater to your clientele. People treat you like you are easy. People treat you like you are dumb. I want people to know that I am neither of those, and hopefully I have changed a couple of minds."

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What's Your Story?

“I

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

was involved in an accident when I was 17 years old. I was not paying attention, and I drove off of the roadway, flipped and rolled the car and was partially ejected. The only injury I received was to my spine and spinal cord.

The rehab I went to was very honest with me about what to expect as far as recovery. I was surrounded by a lot of positive energy and other young people. Once I found out I could drive a car, still have babies and all of the things that are important to me were still possible, I was ready to get out of the hospital.

I don't feel discriminated against, but there's an otherness about people in wheelchairs and people with disabilities. It's more of a curiosity and people tend to be overly nice. I would rather people ask me honest

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questions because they have preconceived notions about life with a disability.

Life in a wheelchair is not awful. An able-bodied person thinks of everything you've lost but they don't seem to understand from our perspective that almost everything is possible.”

(As I was speaking with her, she was about to get into her car and leave. I of course was interested in how she was able to master getting herself and her chair in and out of her car without any assistance. She told me that she made a Youtube video in which she demonstrates exactly how it is done and asked me to post the video along with a link to her blog titled, "Reflections of a Paralytic.") reflectionsofaparalytic.com youtube.com/watch?v=qJ90XywzOJo

inweekly.net

What's Your Story?

facebook.com/Humansofpensacola

Meet the man behind The People of Pensacola: Leon Martin “At first I didn’t want it to be about me.

I still don’t [want it to be about me] but at this point, I don’t have a problem with people knowing who is behind the page.”

Why did you choose to do this project?

“I’m a photographer and I enjoy walking around and shooting landscapes. One day I happened to see a well-dressed gentlemen sitting at a table in the park, and thought he made an interesting shot, so I started talking to him. I thought to myself, this could be more interesting than walking around and taking photos of architecture or landscapes, and so I began doing street portraits and interviews.

I am a Police Sergeant and 26 year veteran of Pensacola Police Department, so I have developed the ability to interview and extract information from people. I use that

January 9, 2014

tool in a positive way for my street interviews. In my official capacity, I am interviewing people as an authority figure. This allows me to just talk to people as me.”

Has there been a conflict with your job as a member of the PPD? “Not at all. On my off time, I am just Leon.”

Thoughts on where you want to take the project from here?

“Initially I wanted to keep it as street stories, but I’ve received emails from people who know other people with interesting stories. So I’m considering going to locations and talking to people based on the tips that I’m getting. We will see, if it means interviewing someone at their home, then certainly I am open to trying that.” {in}

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