“Perseverance With Dignity” Wows First Friday Crowd

When you meet Christopher Brown, there’s no denying his easy manner and ingenuous air. Brown, a charming Englishman with an intriguing accent, is a “no frills no nonsense” kind of guy who can put it all on the table and speak his mind freely.

Christopher Brown, a documentary photographer, brings his straightforward perspective to life in his most recent project, Perseverance with Dignity, which debuted at National Realty Art Gallery on Friday in Old City, Philadelphia.

As the First Friday crowd enjoyed a posh evening of culture, art, music and free-flowing cocktails, another group of Philadelphians were worried about something much more weighty.  Many men and women in Philadelphia spend their days worried about how they are going to scrape up enough money to eat, where they will find a safe place to sleep, and what will happen when these warm summer days come to an end.

According to ProjectHome.org and NBC Philadelphia:

• Each year in Philadelphia, homeless outreach organizations engage over 5,500 individuals living on the street, in cars, abandoned buildings, train/bus stations, abandoned buildings, and other places not meant for human habitation.

• At a given point in time, the City of Philadelphia estimates we have an average of 650 people living on the streets.

• Nearly half of those who seek shelter in our local community are now being turned away.

• Homelessness, hunger, and poverty are all on the rise in Philadelphia, which is the poorest city of its size in the country.

 

In January 2014, Christopher Brown joined forces with videographer, Scott Parry, to create the Perseverance with Dignity project, documenting the lives of the people who live in the shadows of our bustling metropolis.

In his typical frank and sincere manner, Brown brings life to the characters whom we so often absentmindedly pass by on the street. His work tells their story through impactful, humanizing portraits. Brown’s talent lies in his ability to capture the essence of the person behind the somber mask of homelessness.

Parry, once a Buddhist student at a monastery, is now a student of the Art Institute where he and Brown initially met. While speaking with Parry, he tells of the bitter, rainy night in March when he and Brown slept under the bridge with these guys, some of which they have come to know as friends over these last nine months. “It was cold. So cold. So, so cold. We thought about not going out… until I realized they don’t have that choice.”

When asked about homeless people on the street who may be suffering from addiction, Brown understands the fear that some people have in giving cash to the homeless. Instead, he urges, “Just give them some compassion. Sometimes all someone needs is an outreached hand from a compassionate person. Be that compassionate person.”

Fundraising is a vital part of helping our transient population. All proceeds from the event benefit the Bethesda Project, whose mission it is to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none. Brown’s beliefs are congruent: “If you just live for the smile, live for the, ‘Hello, how are you today?’ and that’s really what makes the difference because you never know when that’s gonna come back and someone might shake your hand one day when you’re having a bit of a bum time.” Donations to the Bethesda Project can be made here.