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This portrait series was born out of the Northeast Los Angeles Riverfront Collaborative (NELA RC), an interdisciplinary partnership that combines planning efforts, strategic investments, and an economic revitalization plan to help NELA communities thrive. The photographs aim to showcase the demographics around the L.A. River in Northeast Los Angeles, structured within an online hub of stories, discussions, and engagement activities inspired by life in the NELA communities.
With his portraits, photographer Ricardo Palavecino provides an insight into the daily lives of individuals and communities based around the L.A. River. Short audio snippets and a transcript from informal interviews with the subjects accompany the portraits, with some stories transcribed in both English and Spanish. Completed over the span of a few months, the project allowed Palavecino to converse with residents of five different neighborhoods: Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park, Lincoln Heights, and Elysian Valley. The snapshots portray the individuals in their most natural environment, suggesting a connection to their hobbies, everyday activities, and jobs.