These are the characters that inhabit my stories and my life. They are real people, and they matter. They are important to me and I want you to see them the same way I do. They are heroes, and artists. They are brilliant and funny, sometimes a little tragic. They care about the world around them and the people in their lives.

Many of these relationships are in part due to my ongoing relationship with San Fernando Valley Mutual Aid. We are a group of friends and neighbors working to make the world a little closer to how we’d like it to be.

If you would like to support our efforts to forge a more durable and compassionate neighborhood, follow us on IG @sfv_mutualaid or Venmo @SFV_MA

Lucky was kind of the first. I'd been working with the folks at Alexandria for a year before I brought a camera with me. I'd asked someone if he'd mind if I took his portrait, and he declined. I explained that I respected his choice and I hoped he'd

Christina lives in the Tiny Homes with her husband who's working. They can't quite make the hurdle of getting out of the program. Once she handed me $5, declaring that they wanted to help too.

Vinny! I'm glad you're alive and well. I hadn't seen you for almost a month since I'd taken this photo. Moved to a new spot, further west. Can't blame him, it's gotten really rough at Alexandria lately.

Elaina! The coolest skater chick! I haven't done her justice here, but I'll catch her another time I hope.

The love on Maria's face and Daniel, just doing what she asked even though he's not feeling it.

I met Shady a couple months ago. I was riding my bike a few blocks away from Alexandria. I say him standing in the street, clearly having a moment. I stopped and asked him what was going on. He told me about a beef he was having with someone else. I

I drove past Marva while doing some shopping. She was beautiful, and I thought about asking her for a portrait.

On my way out, I noticed that she was holding a sign that simply said "Please." I pulled over and asked her what was going on. She expl

Definitely her name started with a D. Maybe Desiree, certainly not Denise. I'll figure it out the next time I see her, or I'll get lucky and it'll come back.

She's a budtender at my local dispensary. I always talk too much when I'm there. I'm sure t

Mark, I think his name was Mark. What I remember is that he was helping his 94 year old grandmother get rid of stuff. It sounded like she would have been at home in my hoarder family. The thing I walked away with was a drill press that I didn't stric

We talked about the oldest Pho restaurant in San Diego. Thanks for taking the time.

I saw him on his scooter looking fresh and put together. I hope I didn't scare him when I stopped him to take this, but he appreciated it in the end. Radom old dudes must stop him on the street daily

I owe her this photo. I'm so far behind that it's been a whole month since I took this and hadn't made prints somehow.

I love going to Anawalt because of people like this. They have time to chat and smile and be human.

I met Alex on a sunny Saturday. They were sitting amongst all their belongings, quietly crying. I tried to offer comfort, but there wasn't any to be had. We were strangers, and what could I offer a person who seemingly had lost everything? I remember

Michele... I'm glad I mentioned her name to someone. I always feel guilty when a story moves me and I can't remember their name.

I was driving my mother to breakfast before I left to go home. We drove past Michele, sitting in the middle of 6 lanes

Alen! He's one of the first people at Alexandria that I was formally introduced to. He was at the time an informal mayor. He's a natural leader, charismatic and kind, people love him and he has friends wherever I see him. He got an RV a couple months

I feel terrible that I always loose his name. He's my Manny go between. Many somehow never wears a shirt and he's always in a white button down. I don't know how he keeps them clean or always seems put together.

Inigo Montoya for socialism at Echo Park Really Really Free Market

Bernadette is the audiologist the fit my mother for her first hearing aids. I knew the moment I met her that she was amazing. They run her ragged and she is somehow always lovely. I hope enough people let her know that we appreciate her. We need more

Jerry Mathers with a fresh cut and shave, looking good and I think feeling good. I gave him the previous photo I'd taken and he told me he looked like shit. I like them both, man has eyes that look through you.

KISS THIS in the 818. Keep that roof over your head. You and Mondo deserve it.