2024 Emerging Vision Photojournalist of the Year

Lynn Green wipes a tear from his eye as he listens to speakers during the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of graduates from the...

Lynn Green wipes a tear from his eye as he listens to speakers during the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of graduates from the Northwestern Prison Education Program at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Ill. Green is one of 16 prisoners who are the first incarcerated individuals to receive bachelor’s degrees from a Top 10 university through the Northwestern Prison Education Program, a part of Northwestern University.

James “Jimmy” Soto poses for a portrait in a classroom at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Ill. Soto is among a cohort of 16...

James “Jimmy” Soto poses for a portrait in a classroom at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Ill. Soto is among a cohort of 16 prisoners who are the first to receive bachelor’s degrees from a top 10 university through the Northwestern Prison Education Program, a part of Northwestern University. Soto served 42 years for a crime he was wrongfully convicted of. He was released, along with his co-defendant, David Ayala, his cousin, on Dec. 14, 2023. The pair are the longest serving wrongful conviction cases in Illinois history.

Zhymere Morgan, center, who goes by the performance name Lil’ Perco, raises his hands to the audience during a rap performance at the Montage Music...

Zhymere Morgan, center, who goes by the performance name Lil’ Perco, raises his hands to the audience during a rap performance at the Montage Music Hall in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 24, 2023. Morgan started rapping at a young age, looking up to his older cousin, Lonnie Keys Jr., who went by the performance name King Kada. Morgan walked out to his performance, rapping a tribute song to Keys.

Lucas Aysenne, 9, center in black hat, reaches out a baseball to be signed by Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox before a...

Lucas Aysenne, 9, center in black hat, reaches out a baseball to be signed by Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox before a game between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park in Boston on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Haven Mazeroll, left, and Daquan Pendarvis, right, both friends of Latrell, cheer him on as he performs at the GLD FSTVL held at City Hall...

Haven Mazeroll, left, and Daquan Pendarvis, right, both friends of Latrell, cheer him on as he performs at the GLD FSTVL held at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Mass. on Aug. 12, 2023. The festival was organized by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop.

Workers clean up flood debris at Okemo Marketplace, a shopping center at the base of Okemo Mountain, in Ludlow, Vt. on July 12, 2023, after...

Workers clean up flood debris at Okemo Marketplace, a shopping center at the base of Okemo Mountain, in Ludlow, Vt. on July 12, 2023, after major floods across the state of Vermont.

Members of the Mother McAuley “Mighty Macs” and students celebrate winning the Girls Varsity Volleyball Class 4A Sectional Title match between the Mother McAuley “Mighty...

Members of the Mother McAuley “Mighty Macs” and students celebrate winning the Girls Varsity Volleyball Class 4A Sectional Title match between the Mother McAuley “Mighty Macs” and the Marist “Redhawks” at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School on the South Side of Chicago on Nov. 1, 2023. The “Mighty Macs” won in two sets, with scores of 25-11 and 25-19.

Keeping Them Alive "Celebrating their life keeps them alive," says Persephone Modeste, a therapist based in Rochester, N.Y., where friends and family pay tribute to...

Keeping Them Alive "Celebrating their life keeps them alive," says Persephone Modeste, a therapist based in Rochester, N.Y., where friends and family pay tribute to loved ones killed by gun violence using customs and rituals that signify death is not the end of life for the deceased. Loved ones are celebrated and kept close through objects and events that honor their legacy. "Sometimes, the pain bears you down so much that you have to think of something joyful to be able to move on because it can be debilitating," says Modeste.

From left, Albert Faling, Isaiah Torres, and Bianca Baez, sit at the casket of Anthony Miller-Curry following his interment at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y....

From left, Albert Faling, Isaiah Torres, and Bianca Baez, sit at the casket of Anthony Miller-Curry following his interment at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y. on Sept. 2, 2023. Curry was 19 years old. Curry was shot on Aug. 5, 2023 when gunfire broke out at a large gathering on North Clinton Ave. He passed away a few days later at the hospital. Curry’s older brother, Ly’Saun, was shot and killed on Oct. 2, 2020 at the age of 20. They leave behind their mother, Titiana Bogar, and three sisters, Ly’Naisha, Omariana, and Estrellita.

Richard Collinge Jr. puts the finishing touches on a casket wrap for Cahj’miere Robinson, a 17-year-old who was shot and killed on Sept. 11, 2022,...

Richard Collinge Jr. puts the finishing touches on a casket wrap for Cahj’miere Robinson, a 17-year-old who was shot and killed on Sept. 11, 2022, at Memories Funeral Home in Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 29, 2022. The wrap uses the same process one would use to wrap a vehicle. Collinge has developed a strong business selling casket wraps and cardboard cutouts for the friends and family of people who have passed away. Casket wraps can be related to the sarcophagi of Ancient Epgyt, which were used to bury political figures and wealthy people. In 2022, Collinge had to create a casket wrap and cutout for his son, Richard Collinge III, who was shot and killed on July 20, 2022.

Friends and family gather around a cardboard cutout Alexis Mercedes at his wake at Falvo Funeral Home in Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 29, 2023. A...

Friends and family gather around a cardboard cutout Alexis Mercedes at his wake at Falvo Funeral Home in Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 29, 2023. A cardboard cutout creates a physical presence of the deceased. It is not well known where cardboard cutouts began, but some say they started in Black communities in the Southern United States, as a way for families to remember their loved ones in a physical form, at their funerals and beyond, according to NPR.

Money used for props at the feet of Tyler Lloyd, a friend of Anthony Miller-Curry, as he films a music video as a tribute for...

Money used for props at the feet of Tyler Lloyd, a friend of Anthony Miller-Curry, as he films a music video as a tribute for Curry at the repast following his funeral in Rochester, N.Y. on Sept. 2, 2023.

Jalen Everett, left, 8, and Juelz Everett, second from left, 4, the sons of Jalen Everett, play with their cousins at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester,...

Jalen Everett, left, 8, and Juelz Everett, second from left, 4, the sons of Jalen Everett, play with their cousins at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y., on April 29, 2023, at a family gathering honoring the fourth-anniversary of Jalen’s death. The family released balloons in his honor and spoke of his legacy. Leslie Gordon, Jalen’s mother, picked out a spot for Jalen’s internment near a pond at the cemetery to feel at peace when people visit him. “Kids are so carefree, they really don't understand,” says Gordon. “So, you know, if they have a place where they can just be themselves and be free, that works.”

Jalen Everett Jr., 8, is comforted by his grandmother, left, and Wanda Ridegway, right, a family friend and gun violence activist, while he eats cake...

Jalen Everett Jr., 8, is comforted by his grandmother, left, and Wanda Ridegway, right, a family friend and gun violence activist, while he eats cake at the birthday celebration for his father, Jalen Everett Sr., who was shot and killed when Jalen Jr. was 4 years old. Jalen Sr. went by the performance name “La Flare 2x.” He was a popular rapper from the Maplewood neighborhood of Rochester and was one of the three suspects involved in the Genesee St. Boys and Girls Club shooting, a shooting in Rochester, N.Y., that left three young men dead. He was indicted and charged, but he walked free after one trial was declared a mistrial, and the jury declared him not guilty during the second trial. He was eventually shot and killed on May 4, 2019.

Mesiah Mitchell, a musician, pauses for a moment while filming a music video alongside David Lawrence (in white) at the birthday party for Richard Collinge...

Mesiah Mitchell, a musician, pauses for a moment while filming a music video alongside David Lawrence (in white) at the birthday party for Richard Collinge III at the French Quarter nightclub in Rochester, N.Y., on April 26, 2023. Rap musicians often express their sorrow for a friend through their music. The rapper Diddy’s famous song, often played at funerals, "I’ll Be Missing You," is a tribute to his friend, the famous rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed in 1997.

Jamma Balkum, 8, the son of the late Jamen Balkum, dances while surrounded by friends and family at the 30th birthday celebration for his father...

Jamma Balkum, 8, the son of the late Jamen Balkum, dances while surrounded by friends and family at the 30th birthday celebration for his father in Rochester, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 2023. Balkum was shot and killed on Aug. 30, 2023. Since then, his mother, Michele Balkum, has held birthday parties to celebrate the legacy of her late son.

Titiana Bogar Curry, right, and her boyfriend, Derrick Bradshaw, left, carry photographs of Curry’s sons, Ly’Saun Curry, and Anthony Miller Curry, at Rochester Fashion Week...

Titiana Bogar Curry, right, and her boyfriend, Derrick Bradshaw, left, carry photographs of Curry’s sons, Ly’Saun Curry, and Anthony Miller Curry, at Rochester Fashion Week at the ROC Dome Arena in Henrietta, N.Y. on Oct. 14, 2023. Following the deaths of both of her sons, Curry wanted to the honor them in a unique way. She created her own clothing line, dressing the friends and sisters of Ly’Saun and Anthony in orange and black clothing, the favorite colors of Ly’Saun and Anthony respectively to debut on the runway.

Leslie Gordon, center in orange, looks up and waves at a paper lantern she released during the fourth-anniversary party for her late son Jalen Everett...

Leslie Gordon, center in orange, looks up and waves at a paper lantern she released during the fourth-anniversary party for her late son Jalen Everett at her home in Rochester, N.Y., on April 26, 2023. “It's like a balloon release but it's a little bit more intimate because when you light the fire, the message is supposed to get to him…it goes directly up to heaven.” According to Leslie, she learned about this practice from a grief support group she is a member of on social media.

Presence Jasmin Vega, a mother of three, is raising her 11-year-old daughter, Za’Ryah Hernandez-Ruffin, without her father, Deavoghn Hernandez-Ruffin, who was shot and killed on...

Presence Jasmin Vega, a mother of three, is raising her 11-year-old daughter, Za’Ryah Hernandez-Ruffin, without her father, Deavoghn Hernandez-Ruffin, who was shot and killed on Father’s Day in 2012. Za’Ryah was eight months old. “I know what it was like not to have my father around for a period of my life,” says Jasmin. “He was active, very active. But then he went to prison for 10 years, and I yearned for him…To know that my daughter doesn't even remember a hug or kiss or anything from him bothers me, and it bothers her so badly.” Jasmin works hard to keep Deavoghn present in Za'Ryah's life and make the lives of all her children the best they can be. "Being present means not just saying what is available; It's doing. Its action. Presence is a verb…It's not a past-tense thing. It's what you do…As a mom, as a parent, and as a single parent, I have to be present."

Jasmin Vega sits with her daughter, Za’Ryah Hernandez-Ruffin, 11, at the gravesite of her father, DeaVoghn Hernandez-Ruffin, who passed away on June 18, 2012, when...

Jasmin Vega sits with her daughter, Za’Ryah Hernandez-Ruffin, 11, at the gravesite of her father, DeaVoghn Hernandez-Ruffin, who passed away on June 18, 2012, when Za’Ryah was only 8 months old. The mother and daughter went to his grave at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 23, 2022, as a gift for Za’Ryah’s 11th birthday, on the 24th. “It just hurts,” said Jasmin. “I know what it was like not to have my father around for a period of my life. Like he was active, very active. But then he went to prison for 10 years and I yearned for him. Like I literally yearn for him. So, to have him and lose him. That hurts but I knew I was getting him back but to know that my daughter doesn't even remember a hug or kiss anything from him that bothers me, and it bothers her so badly.”

Za’Ryah practices braiding hair while Jasmin finishes the braids on her friend, Sam, in her at-home salon in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 21, 2022. According...

Za’Ryah practices braiding hair while Jasmin finishes the braids on her friend, Sam, in her at-home salon in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 21, 2022. According to Jasmin, Za’Ryah has been eager to try braiding hair. Jasmin used to work at a hair salon but moved her business to her living room to be able to spend more time with her children.

A tattoo of Deavoghn, Jasmin’s former boyfriend and the father of her daughter, Za’Ryah, on Jasmin’s chest above her heart. Deavoghn was shot and killed...

A tattoo of Deavoghn, Jasmin’s former boyfriend and the father of her daughter, Za’Ryah, on Jasmin’s chest above her heart. Deavoghn was shot and killed while attempting to break up an argument during a rap battle at the Bug Jar, a popular music venue in the southeast quadrant of Rochester. Over a hundred people were at the event, but no one has come forward to say who killed him. He was 21 years old.

Jasmin walks with Za’Ryah and Jaheem, along with their friends, while trick or treating on Halloween in Irondequoit, N.Y., a nearby suburb of Rochester, N.Y.,...

Jasmin walks with Za’Ryah and Jaheem, along with their friends, while trick or treating on Halloween in Irondequoit, N.Y., a nearby suburb of Rochester, N.Y., on Oct. 31, 2022. Somershire Drive, a residential street in the town, is a popular destination for the holiday, bringing out hundreds of people.

Za’Ryah lays in bed on a school night while Jasmin reads her a bedtime story at their home in Rochester, N.Y., on April 27, 2023....

Za’Ryah lays in bed on a school night while Jasmin reads her a bedtime story at their home in Rochester, N.Y., on April 27, 2023. The Build-a-Bear Workshop teddy bear on her right has a voice recording of her late father. The blanket shows a photo of her father, Deavoghn, and her mother, Jasmin, holding her as a newborn baby in the delivery room of the hospital.

Jasmin Vega takes a moment to breathe while folding laundry in her bedroom with while hanging out with a friend at her home in Rochester,...

Jasmin Vega takes a moment to breathe while folding laundry in her bedroom with while hanging out with a friend at her home in Rochester, N.Y. on April 27, 2023. “It's like we're in a world full of green lights,” says Jasmin. “None of them turn red. You can say that. So I'm basically always go go go go go.”

Jasmin plays with Za’Ryah while helping her work through her homework at their home in Rochester, N.Y. on April 27, 2023. Jasmin often teases Za’Ryah...

Jasmin plays with Za’Ryah while helping her work through her homework at their home in Rochester, N.Y. on April 27, 2023. Jasmin often teases Za’Ryah that she is her favorite daughter. Za’Ryah’s siblings are both boys.

Jasmin speaks to a counselor at a parent-teacher conference at Rochester Prep, a charter school in Rochester, N.Y., on April 27, 2023, where Jasmin enrolled...

Jasmin speaks to a counselor at a parent-teacher conference at Rochester Prep, a charter school in Rochester, N.Y., on April 27, 2023, where Jasmin enrolled Za’Ryah in October 2022, following a few years of moving her family around to find schools that fit their needs. Za’Ryah performed poorly in classes throughout the year, which Jasmin was certain was due to undiagnosed ADHD. She constantly advocated for her daughter to receive extra time on assignments and special attention from teachers. Recently, Za’Ryah was properly diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and now she is medicated for the disorder.

Jasmin records on her phone as Za’Ryah performs the national anthem as a part of the Rochester Prep Middle School Choir prior to a Rochester...

Jasmin records on her phone as Za’Ryah performs the national anthem as a part of the Rochester Prep Middle School Choir prior to a Rochester Red Wings game in Rochester, N.Y. on May 10, 2023.

Jasmin makes s’mores with Za’Ryah and her son Jaheem on one of the first warm nights of the summer on their porch in Rochester, N.Y....

Jasmin makes s’mores with Za’Ryah and her son Jaheem on one of the first warm nights of the summer on their porch in Rochester, N.Y. on May 10, 2023. "Being present means not just saying what is available, it's doing. Its action. Presence is a verb. That's the presence of something you do, you're present. It's not like a past-tense thing. It's what you do…As a mom, as a parent, and as a single parent, I have to be present."

Jasmin pauses braiding the hair of her friend, Sam, to help Za’Ryah with her math homework at her home in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 21,...

Jasmin pauses braiding the hair of her friend, Sam, to help Za’Ryah with her math homework at her home in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 21, 2022. “You can take someone's clothes, you can take their sneakers, you can take their hair and cut it off,” says Jasmin. “But you can't take their education, you cannot take someone's education. That's something that you can never take from someone. Never…If you have the proper education and the proper mindset, you’ll stay away from those guns.”

Kimberly Friend walks toward her home, the morning after a tornado hit Perry, Mich. on Aug. 12, 2023. When the tornado hit, Friend said the...

Kimberly Friend walks toward her home, the morning after a tornado hit Perry, Mich. on Aug. 12, 2023. When the tornado hit, Friend said the tree in her front yard fell to the right, not on the house where she, her daughter and three grandchildren took cover.

Boxing coach Jason Crutchfield helps Noah Davis, 9, Abel Walton, 15, and Tim Davis, 17, with their technique at Berston Field House on Dec. 14,...

Boxing coach Jason Crutchfield helps Noah Davis, 9, Abel Walton, 15, and Tim Davis, 17, with their technique at Berston Field House on Dec. 14, 2023. Crutchfield has trained boxers at the community center on the Northside of Flint, Mich., for years –– most notably coaching two-time gold medalist Claressa Shields

Ingredients wait to be used by Antonia Kidd, 40, and her mother Florence Peters, 79, as they make tamales for family in Kidd’s home in...

Ingredients wait to be used by Antonia Kidd, 40, and her mother Florence Peters, 79, as they make tamales for family in Kidd’s home in Davison on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. The tamale recipe is over three generations old and was taught to Peters by her aunt. Peters eventually passed on the recipe to her daughter, who now provides hundreds of orders of tamales to the Flint area a month.

Tracy Palmer gives flowers to parents during the “This is Me” special needs fashion show at the Sloan Museum of Discovery in Flint on Sunday,...

Tracy Palmer gives flowers to parents during the “This is Me” special needs fashion show at the Sloan Museum of Discovery in Flint on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. The fashion show aims to highlight the amazing gifts of those with special needs, allowing them to be who they truly are as they walk the runway.

Alexander Smith blows bubbles on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Porch Fest in Flint, Mich. Porch Fest, an annual celebration in Flint’s oldest neighborhood of...

Alexander Smith blows bubbles on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Porch Fest in Flint, Mich. Porch Fest, an annual celebration in Flint’s oldest neighborhood of Carriage Town, highlights all the colorful and creative music and culture that makes Flint special.

Players dump water on the head of Head Coach Steve Herrick during the Metro League football championship at Corunna High School on Saturday, Oct. 14,...

Players dump water on the head of Head Coach Steve Herrick during the Metro League football championship at Corunna High School on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Corunna won the title, 57-7.

Fans watch during the MHSAA Division 5 regional football championship on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Frankenmuth High School. Frankenmuth defeated Kingsford, 35-13.

Fans watch during the MHSAA Division 5 regional football championship on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Frankenmuth High School. Frankenmuth defeated Kingsford, 35-13.

Miguel Cabrera is overcome with emotion when he is subbed out during the Tigers’ season finale at Comerica Park on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 –...

Miguel Cabrera is overcome with emotion when he is subbed out during the Tigers’ season finale at Comerica Park on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 – marking the end of a historic career. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)

The Voice of Dagoretti (VOD) is a non-profit grassroots organization based in the sub-county of Dagoretti, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements. They advocate for...

The Voice of Dagoretti (VOD) is a non-profit grassroots organization based in the sub-county of Dagoretti, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements. They advocate for various issues in their community like gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health, mental health and climate change. VOD advocates for a better tomorrow through the expression of art, acting, songs, poetry and community engagement. The believe that art is a form of expression anyone can understand and connect with. Dagoretti is located at the intersection of multiple wards on the western edge of Nairobi, Kenya. Being born in Dagoretti means being born into certain challenges. Some lack access to food and water. Others were never given the opportunity to obtain a basic education. Though if you look past the surface, you’ll find people fighting for their community with love and empathy.

Students, teachers and members of the Voice of Dagoretti hold hands as the ring about at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti on May 19, 2023....

Students, teachers and members of the Voice of Dagoretti hold hands as the ring about at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti on May 19, 2023. Voice of Dagoretti partnered with the schools climate club to plant 130 trees around the school.

John Mwangi, founder of the Voice of Dagoretti stands next to students in the Climate Club at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti on May 19,...

John Mwangi, founder of the Voice of Dagoretti stands next to students in the Climate Club at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti on May 19, 2023, as they watch a demonstration on tree planting. The students each got their own tree and planted them around the school grounds. Mwangi was born and raised in Dagoretti. He said his childhood was fun, but hard. After seeing the issues facing his community, he helped found VOD to empower the youth.

A group of young mothers sit in a room at the Dagoretti South Empowerment Center on May 26, 2023. The mothers meet with the Voice...

A group of young mothers sit in a room at the Dagoretti South Empowerment Center on May 26, 2023. The mothers meet with the Voice of Dagoretti monthly for support through food, care and education. Many of the mothers left school once they had their children. VOD helps them continue their education and learn trades, such as the making of Safi – a speciality soap.

Darren Avasa watches as trees are planted at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti, a sub-county of Nairobi, Kenya on May 19, 2023. Voice of Dagoretti...

Darren Avasa watches as trees are planted at Kawangware Primary School in Dagoretti, a sub-county of Nairobi, Kenya on May 19, 2023. Voice of Dagoretti partnered with the schools climate club to plant 130 trees around the school. Avasa, perhaps a little too young to join the club, studies his older classmates with careful intent while other children spent their time playing cricket, volleyball or soccer in the yard.

Lawrence Kimani, a local artist from Dagoretti, pulls tape off his paint brush – a process he’s used to preserve his brushes. Members of the...

Lawrence Kimani, a local artist from Dagoretti, pulls tape off his paint brush – a process he’s used to preserve his brushes. Members of the Voice of Dagoretti work on a mural in South Dagoretti on May 23, 2023. The mural encourages the action of speaking out on gender-based violence and climate change.

Members of the Voice of Dagoretti work on a mural in South Dagoretti on May 23, 2023. The mural encourages the action of speaking out...

Members of the Voice of Dagoretti work on a mural in South Dagoretti on May 23, 2023. The mural encourages the action of speaking out on gender-based violence and climate change. Lawrence Kimani, a local artist, led the mural painting and completed the entire wall in just a few hours.

Anne Njeri, a co-founder of the Voice of Dagoretti, leads an expressive dance at a market in Dagoretti on May 25, 2023. Anne led the...

Anne Njeri, a co-founder of the Voice of Dagoretti, leads an expressive dance at a market in Dagoretti on May 25, 2023. Anne led the start of a dance, which turned into a silent play performed by Derrick Sajir and Phelister Amondi, that spoke out against gender-based violence. Dozens circled the group, blocking the streets and leaning over one another to watch the performance.

On Feb. 13, 2023 a gunman entered Michigan State’s campus, firing shots in Berkey Hall and the Union, killing three students and critically injuring five...

On Feb. 13, 2023 a gunman entered Michigan State’s campus, firing shots in Berkey Hall and the Union, killing three students and critically injuring five others. Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson, Alexandria Verner all lost their lives to gun violence. This story is about a community coming together to pick up the pieces. To be there for one another as students and embodying the slogan they’ve been told since they first set foot on campus “Spartans Will.”

Police create a perimeter at the intersection of Lake Lansing Road and Larch street in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2023. The suspect in...

Police create a perimeter at the intersection of Lake Lansing Road and Larch street in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2023. The suspect in the Michigan State University mass shooting, a 43-year-old male, was tracked to the location by police and died of a self-inflicted gun wound, according to MSUPD interim deputy chief Chris Rozman. The crime scene marked the ending of an initial wave of terror and the beginning of a long road to healing.

James Madison freshman Kathryn Johnson leaves flowers at the foot of the Spartan statue on Feb. 14, 2023, 16 hours after the first reports of...

James Madison freshman Kathryn Johnson leaves flowers at the foot of the Spartan statue on Feb. 14, 2023, 16 hours after the first reports of a gunman firing shots at Berkey Hall.

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the...

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the mass shooting in MSU's North Neighborhood. On April 13, two months to the date of the shooting at Michigan State University, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed commonsense gun violence prevention bills that established universal background checks for all firearm purchases and safe storage requirements.

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the...

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the mass shooting in MSU's North Neighborhood. Students and legislators took turns speaking at the mic on the steps of the Capitol, begging that their screams and pain not fall on deaf ears. Some performed poetry, others expressive songs. Other’s simply spoke to say they are tired. In 2021 Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich. was invaded by a gunman, murdering four students and injuring seven others. There were freshman at the protest who had just lived through their second school shooting.

Flowers hang on the door of the Union on Feb. 20, 2023. The day before, 'Spartan Sunday' was held on campus where students and the...

Flowers hang on the door of the Union on Feb. 20, 2023. The day before, 'Spartan Sunday' was held on campus where students and the community came together to take back the campus after a mass shooting took place on Feb. 13, 2023. The Union remained closed for the rest of the semester, but has since reopened to the public.

Sociology graduate student Kitty Groeller, chemistry junior Rylee Warner and creative advertising freshman Jasmyn Miller return flowers to the base of The Rock on Farm...

Sociology graduate student Kitty Groeller, chemistry junior Rylee Warner and creative advertising freshman Jasmyn Miller return flowers to the base of The Rock on Farm Lane, after painting over it on Feb. 15, 2023. The trio didn’t know each other when they showed up but all came with the same plan, after seeing that The Rock was painted over with pro-gun messages one day after a mass shooting took place on Michigan State’s campus.

Students support each other at the foot of The Rock –– a staple of the Michigan State Community painted over as a form of expression...

Students support each other at the foot of The Rock –– a staple of the Michigan State Community painted over as a form of expression –– on Feb. 14, 2023, One day after a mass shooting occurred in the North neighborhood of Michigan State University. The students brought flowers to the bed of The Rock on Valentine’s Day, not for their significant other, but for the classmates they lost the night before.

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the...

Michigan State students sit on the steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol protesting gun violence on Feb. 15, 2023 – two days after the mass shooting in MSU's North Neighborhood. “AM I NEXT?” A student asks. There have been over 500 mass shootings in 2023, according to a report by Axios released on Sept. 17.

Candles, flowers and letters fill the base of the Spartan Statue on Feb. 19, 2023, acting as a memorial for Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner and...

Candles, flowers and letters fill the base of the Spartan Statue on Feb. 19, 2023, acting as a memorial for Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner and Arielle Anderson who lost their lives in a mass shooting at Michigan State University on Feb. 13. A week had passed since James Madison freshman Kathryn Johnson stood alone at The Statue and in that time, a sea of support and remembrance made its way through the Michigan State Community. The vigils have since been cleaned up. The Rock has been repainted. The Union is open. But we remember.

Nyra Fields-Miller, overcome with emotion about her murdered son, Ricky Cobb II, is helped to the ground after starting to faint in the middle of...

Nyra Fields-Miller, overcome with emotion about her murdered son, Ricky Cobb II, is helped to the ground after starting to faint in the middle of her speech. She spoke at a press conference outside the St. Paul Governor's Mansion where families and community members advocated for the release of State Patrol footage of the death of Cobb II in St. Paul, Minn. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Ricky Cobb II was murdered at the hands of Minnesota law enforcement during a randomly-conducted traffic stop on Interstate 94 in north Minneapolis.

Laurie McGinley admires her newly-tattooed nipples by artist M Nijiya in Nijiya’s studio in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Nijiya has given hundreds...

Laurie McGinley admires her newly-tattooed nipples by artist M Nijiya in Nijiya’s studio in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Nijiya has given hundreds of these tattoos for people like McGinley who have undergone top surgery or other chest surgeries.

In between prayer sessions for Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” Abdirahman Warsame laughs with his brother Yessir at the Minneapolis Convention Center in...

In between prayer sessions for Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” Abdirahman Warsame laughs with his brother Yessir at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The Islamic holiday marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The annual Freedom From Pants Ride kicks off under the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, Minn. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The ride is always...

The annual Freedom From Pants Ride kicks off under the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, Minn. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The ride is always held on Independence Day to celebrate freedom in a unique way – by freedom from standard clothes. This year’s ride started under the bridge, went through Loring Park, and ended at the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge.

Andy Nelson from Steel County hoses down one of his cows at the cattle barn on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Minn. on...

Andy Nelson from Steel County hoses down one of his cows at the cattle barn on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. With temperatures in the high ‘90s during a record-breaking heat wave, it’s just as important for the animals to stay cool as the humans.

Drake University guard Katie Dinnebier (10) and Minnesota forward Niamya Holloway (41) crash into each other in a race to the basketball in the second...

Drake University guard Katie Dinnebier (10) and Minnesota forward Niamya Holloway (41) crash into each other in a race to the basketball in the second half of the game against Drake University in the Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Minnesota won 94-88 in double overtime.

Marshall High School volleyball teammates hug each other and tear up in celebration after their 3-0 win against Delano High School at the Class 3A...

Marshall High School volleyball teammates hug each other and tear up in celebration after their 3-0 win against Delano High School at the Class 3A Volleyball State Championship match at Xcel Energy center in St. Paul Minn. on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Harold Robinson harvests fully-flowered marijuana plants from him and Angela Dawson’s home greenhouse in Rutledge, MN on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. The couple has been...

Harold Robinson harvests fully-flowered marijuana plants from him and Angela Dawson’s home greenhouse in Rutledge, MN on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. The couple has been growing CBD for four years, but with new marijuana policy, they started growing their own cannabis plants to relieve Dawson’s chronicle pain and Robinson’s PTSD as a veteran.

Story: Mohagany Foster was released from prison on November 8, 2022 after being behind bars for 20 years of her life from a cycle of...

Story: Mohagany Foster was released from prison on November 8, 2022 after being behind bars for 20 years of her life from a cycle of sex work, homelessness and theft. As a trans woman, the state housed her in a men’s facility, depriving her of the trans healthcare she needed and stripping her of all things feminine. Once released, she started rebuilding her life and reclaiming that femininity she had lost. Though she at first received ample support from the local LGBTQ+ community and programs designed to help former inmates like herself, those resources slowly dropped off when she couldn’t find work, leaving Mohagany back where she started: trapped in a system that is not built for women like her. Caption: Being in a men’s facility came with many issues, including stifling her gender identity and causing gender dysphoria for the 20 total years she inside. Now able to present as a woman again, she does everything she can to reclaim the femininity that was robbed from her. One of the first things she did after release was get her hair braided at a studio in her new neighborhood in Durham, N.C. Getting braids done is a day-long commitment, and this appointment took nearly eight hours. In love with them, Mohagany gets her first look in the mirror with her new ‘do. She jumped up and down in pure joy for the first time since being released. “I love it!” she said. “I love it I love it I love it!”

Mohagany got her hair done just in time for her prison release party hosted by the LGBTQ+ Center of Durham. The Center was one of...

Mohagany got her hair done just in time for her prison release party hosted by the LGBTQ+ Center of Durham. The Center was one of the main organizations sponsoring her upon release. They fundraised for and covered her rent in a new apartment, found clothes for her, and made sure she had a steady cash flow for food. Above all that, they brought her into a community of other trans folks, many of whom have also been through the justice system. This party was her introduction to the community, and other trans Black women such as Celeste and Fox (pictured) from across the triangle showered her with flowers, food, gifts for her new home, and love.

Finally feeling settled into her new place, Mohagany enjoys a moment alone on her new pillows. She has been in prison a total of 11...

Finally feeling settled into her new place, Mohagany enjoys a moment alone on her new pillows. She has been in prison a total of 11 times, but has never received post-release support like this. She believes that it’s this support that will keep her out of jail for the rest of her life.

The excitement was short-lived. Since she was 40% of the way into their year-long program with no job prospects yet, the LGBTQ+ Center decided to...

The excitement was short-lived. Since she was 40% of the way into their year-long program with no job prospects yet, the LGBTQ+ Center decided to cut off all support for Mohagany. She would have to move out of the apartment and find a new way to survive and fundraise for herself. Above, Mohagany talks with Ash, her primary support organizer who had originally connected her with the Center.

Mohagany moves out of her apartment in North Durham since she was no longer in the LGBTQ+ Center’s program. Though the program is meant to...

Mohagany moves out of her apartment in North Durham since she was no longer in the LGBTQ+ Center’s program. Though the program is meant to support trans women in Durham, they are not used to dealing with former inmates and didn't have the proper resources to help her find jobs that would hire people with a record like hers. Knowing she didn’t have a new permanent location to go to, Mohagany had to leave most of her stuff behind that she had spent the last few months rebuilding her life with. “I’m used to this though. It’s just stuff,” she said.

On a rainy day, Mohagany walks to the Dragon Inn, a Chinese restaurant close to where she moved to. She still doesn’t have a car...

On a rainy day, Mohagany walks to the Dragon Inn, a Chinese restaurant close to where she moved to. She still doesn’t have a car nor any groceries yet, so she is mostly bound to the cheap restaurants within walking distance from her neighborhood. “But I love trying all the new restaurants," she said. "And exploring is one of the few things I can do completely on my own without help from anyone else."

Mohagany moved into a motel with her new boyfriend Jay, who ended up being both physically and emotionally abusive toward her. He had no real...

Mohagany moved into a motel with her new boyfriend Jay, who ended up being both physically and emotionally abusive toward her. He had no real job and would often take for himself what little money Mohagany was able to raise. But she said she had no choice but to stay with him, for he offers her both protection and validation as a woman, which was crucial for easing her gender dysphoria.

Mohagany looks at her failed drug test results from her parole officer, warning her that this is her last chance. While dealing with how to...

Mohagany looks at her failed drug test results from her parole officer, warning her that this is her last chance. While dealing with how to live her daily life and scrape up hotel money every day, Mohagany still has to attend regular visits with her P.O. In addition to staying drug-free, she wasn't allowed to leave the house after 7 p.m., meaning she had to miss out on many things that would help her integrate into the community, such as Trans Visibility Night in Durham and Thanksgiving with her family in Raleigh. And after failing multiple drug tests in a row, the conditions of her parole were becoming rockier. “When is this prison stuff ever going to get out of my life?” she asks. "I’m out of prison, but mentally, I think I’m still in.”

Every morning, Mohagany spends hours sending out donation requests to anyone she can think of that might spare her some cash so she can scrape...

Every morning, Mohagany spends hours sending out donation requests to anyone she can think of that might spare her some cash so she can scrape together the $105 needed by 11 a.m. for her hotel room. At this point, she had been forcibly removed from several hotels for failing to make that day's payment. “You think I like asking my friends for money every single day?” Mohagany asked. “I hate feeling like a beggar. I hate it here in this hotel. But what choice do I have?”

Mohagany quickly gets ready for a day out at a transgender visibility event. She has lost a lot of weight over the past few months...

Mohagany quickly gets ready for a day out at a transgender visibility event. She has lost a lot of weight over the past few months without as much support as she did before, and she no longer has her braids or nails that she was so excited about when she was first released.

Mohagany pencils in her eyebrows with a tiny pencil that's down to the nub. “I know it seems silly with everything else going on, but...

Mohagany pencils in her eyebrows with a tiny pencil that's down to the nub. “I know it seems silly with everything else going on, but I have to keep this part of me. Otherwise I might as well be in prison again.”

Mohagany stands outside her new motel room, a Days Inn, after being removed from her previous one. She was still working every day to find...

Mohagany stands outside her new motel room, a Days Inn, after being removed from her previous one. She was still working every day to find a job, a real place to rent, and to build a better future for herself. But as a former inmate, transgender woman and Black women, the odds have always been stacked against her. Mohagany was re-incarcerated in September of 2023 for breaking parole. She will be released in December of 2024, where she will have to begin the cycle again.

Story: Waiting for Taylor In June 2023, Taylor Swift took over downtown Minneapolis, as she did with every city she stopped in. For three days...

Story: Waiting for Taylor In June 2023, Taylor Swift took over downtown Minneapolis, as she did with every city she stopped in. For three days straight, downtown streets were shut down for the hoards of Swifts in line and the city was littered in glitter, cowboy hats and beaded bracelets. Swifites (and their non-Swiftie families) devoted hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to all-things Taylor Swiftt, from making hundreds of trade-able friendship bracelets to hand-made costumes to waiting hours in line to dumping fortunes on merchandise. Her presence in the city was so contagious that the Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, changed the name of the city to “Swiftieapolis” during the pop star’s stay. Caption: Two security guards talk in front of the Taylor-covered merchandise truck early in the morning before the truck is opened to the public.

This group arrived at 2:30am to claim their spot in line on the first day of the merchandise truck’s three-day stay in town. They were...

This group arrived at 2:30am to claim their spot in line on the first day of the merchandise truck’s three-day stay in town. They were still only 3rd in line, as the earliest line-goers arrived at 11 p.m. the prior night. Many of the people in line didn’t even have tickets for the show, but getting the merchandise was the closest they could get.

Emma Schwartz offers a friendship bracelet trade to two strangers, Kayla Buffone (left) and Destiny Hondz as a way to pass the time in the...

Emma Schwartz offers a friendship bracelet trade to two strangers, Kayla Buffone (left) and Destiny Hondz as a way to pass the time in the Taylor Swift Eras Tour merchandise line outside of the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Making and trading friendship bracelets became a trend after Swift's song "You're on Your Own, Kid" from the album "Midnights" where she sings, "So make...

Making and trading friendship bracelets became a trend after Swift's song "You're on Your Own, Kid" from the album "Midnights" where she sings, "So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it."

Gabby Corbett (left) and Lilly Perron didn’t let the worsening weather conditions deter them from the long merchandise line for the second night of the...

Gabby Corbett (left) and Lilly Perron didn’t let the worsening weather conditions deter them from the long merchandise line for the second night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour’s stop in Minneapolis, Minn.

Katie Oelig (left) and Shannon Dunn share a laugh while waiting outside of the U.S. Bank Stadium for the second night of the Taylor Swift...

Katie Oelig (left) and Shannon Dunn share a laugh while waiting outside of the U.S. Bank Stadium for the second night of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour’s stop in Minneapolis, Minn. on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Leightyn Ferrell, Debbie Carlson, Emerson Campbell and Lindsay Campbell finally leave the Taylor Swift Eras Tour merchandise line with over $1,400 worth of merchandise in...

Leightyn Ferrell, Debbie Carlson, Emerson Campbell and Lindsay Campbell finally leave the Taylor Swift Eras Tour merchandise line with over $1,400 worth of merchandise in hand. The Eras Tour was the highest-grossing music tour in history, and that’s thanks in no small part to the merchandise.

Exhausted U.S. Bank Stadium staffers for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour await instructions. There were nearly quadruple the number of staffers than usually required for a...

Exhausted U.S. Bank Stadium staffers for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour await instructions. There were nearly quadruple the number of staffers than usually required for a concert to pull off this multi-day, high profile event, but most of them say they weren’t Swifties themselves; they just needed the work.

On hour six of waiting in line for the merchandise truck, Ethan Maynard takes a nap in the long line. Ultimately, Swifties spent far more...

On hour six of waiting in line for the merchandise truck, Ethan Maynard takes a nap in the long line. Ultimately, Swifties spent far more time waiting to see her than seeing the Queen of Pop herself.