We were lucky to catch up with Javier Jimenez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Javier, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I worked with Jesse Vasquez before the conception of Pollen Initiative as a photographer for the San Quentin News, which is in the media center of The Q. Therefore, the mission of, and the drive behind, Pollen Initiative is extremely meaningful to me and it will always hold a special place in my life. However, although i work closely with pollen initiative to help realize its vision i feel my mission is a bit different. As a system impacted individual who has worked in a prison media center i have first hand knowledge of the essential opportunities such a program can offer individuals to help them succeed in life. The media centers which Jesse’s Pollen Initiative propose to realize in prisons and jails across the country were a game changer for me. San Quentin’s media center helped set me on the right path to find my own inner peace not only in prison but in life as well. Working as a photographer for SQN allowed me to close my minds eye to the negative energies which were consuming most around me. And in doing so the media center allowed positive energies to flow through my life within a place filled of ugliness. The media center at San Quentin and my time at SQN helped to focus and refine those positive energies through the camaraderie’s made with staff and volunteers alike. Many of the volunteers allowed me to feel a sense of humanity through their kindness and selfless action. Furthermore, the network of awesome people which was formed during my time within the media center impacted my life in a verity of positive ways and allowed me to form impactful and meaningful relationships which i hold dear to this day. So, while Pollen Initiative mission is the spread of media centers throughout the countries many prisons and jails in an effort to produce positive results, not only within system impacted communities but in the general public as well, I believe it is my mission to document and share the story’s of system impacted individuals through photography and video. By sharing these stories i hope to catch the eye of someone going through a similar situation and that the story may offer then some change in perspective or insight into their own positive change. In short, the mission is meaningful to me because the media center at San Quentin helped me to stay positively focused in a place that’s made to break your focus and your humanity. The media center allowed me to discover the peace that photography now offers me. I can’t think of a better way to share how the media center positively influenced my life than to spread positive energies out in to the world through what i love so much.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’d say the majority of people reading this have never heard of me. So, if i had to describe myself i guess id tell everyone that name is Javier Jimenez. Im a 46 year old ,first gen. Mex/American, that was born in the Bay. I grew up in a traditional Mexican family (single mom), the güero (white skin mex) of the bunch. I’m heavily, or should i say HELLA, influenced by my upbringing in Oakland, or for that matter Cali in general. I’m usually the loudest of the bunch if im comfortable. My wife, before she passed, always used to say that with me there is no in between, people either like me or they hate me. I used to think that was hilarious, but that’s probably the best description i could think of to date. I would also tell people that although i make my living in the construction industry i am first and foremost a photographer. I love photography and have had a passion for it since i was about 16. And while my life choices when i was younger kept me away from my passion, i have since rediscovered it. When I’m behind the camera this sense of tranquility comes over me and i feel so at peace. It literally melts away whatever negative energy has entered my space. I always tell everyone that in photography is my zen.
Working at the media center in San Quentin is what allowed me to rediscovered my love for photography. I remember seeing Eddie Herreña (the SQN photographer before me) walking around SQ with a camera, clicking up a storm, and thinking— DAMN— what a kick-ass job to do in prison. I want to do that. But i figured it would never happen. So i did every other program that SQ had to offer in an effort to get time off my sentence and spend my time in a positive manner. See. I had decided that my time in prison would better me, you know, and not let this lesson pass me by like all the others. So, whenever i would see Eddie i would always ask him about the photography job and how i could do it. Finally, one day i learned that Eddie was up for rerelease and the SQN was gonna be in need of a new photographer. Fortunately for me one of my tier neighbors, who i spoke to quite often, worked for SQN. I was able to get the 411 about the job through him. And although many wanted the job very few were chosen for an actual interview with SQN leading staff, but i was one of the fortunate few. And while id love to lie to you n tell you it was my whit and charm is what landed me the job, ultimately prison politics is what got me the gig. Haha… Seriously, i was picked because the SQN is a diversified staff which is ethnically equally distributed and i filled the spot perfectly. No matter how i got in i was in, and the media center opened my eyes to a new chapter in my life.
Honestly, i had become part of something i had no idea would change my life when i became the photographer for SQN. I initially just wanted the opportunity to use the camera in prison because I’ve always been interested in photography. But once i was in i started to see the underlying deeper purpose to SQN, or for that matter the entire media center. Moreover, i began to notice social humanity within the walls of the media center. NOW, don’t get me wrong there was plenty of bickering, and passed animosity’s which prevented a much better work environment, but nonetheless the difference between the prison yard and the media center is day and night. Both the staff, and all the volunteers were extremely respectful and always willing to help anyone in their pursuit to succeed in their personal journey. Then, there was the diverse nature of knowledge and life experience that the volunteers and staff brought to the table in that same efforts toward helping others succeed. In a place like prison where respect is always demanded its an absolute beautiful thing for respect just to be given freely like it was in the media center. Once i got use to things in the media center and found my footing it was no longer just about getting my hands on the camera (although that remained the absolute best part of the job) I now understood the purpose behind SQ’s media center.
As an employee of the media center it quickly became evident that there was a higher purpose to be served than to just benefit ones self. The power in the platform that media centers, such as those purposed by Pollen Initiative, have is vast and amazing. They have the ability to positively influence individuals, and not only system impacted individuals, but society as a whole. Through sharing stories, knowledge, and experiences which we gather in our own struggles, successes and failures we have the opportunity to help others and in doing so we gain a sense of accomplishment, purpose and pride. So, i would say the service i offer is the spreading of positive news and positive vibes in an effort tho influence others in the most positive manner which my photography and videography may allow me.
The thing im most proud of has nothing at all to do with with my work, as what i am most proud of is my son. His resilience is amazing. He’s becoming an awesome person, despite all the crap i put him through. But If i had to offer something though, id tell ur readers to always do something that makes them happy and offers them their own inner peace. Because without that life is left with a void you will forever attempt to fill. And whatever brings you that inner peace, realize it and embrace it. It doesn’t have to be your full time job—although that’s always a plus—but make room for it in your life because the positive vibes that flow through you while you do it, make that day so much better. At least that’s what photography does for me. My air buds, a camera, and a stroll anywhere leads me straight to zen.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
For quite awhile now i have had this dream/goal. to pay homage to My Heritage, The Bay, & The Roots that intertwined these two together and made me who i am. Moreover, I want whatever i do to better communities. Furthermore, i want to spread awareness, knowledge, and the life experiences of system impacted individuals and Bay Area artists, in an effort to help latino youth avoid the school to prison pipeline. I really never knew how to go about doing all these things until the media center. There i learned the power of media. From what I’ve learned about photography, the much im learning about videography along the way, as well as everything SQN taught me about properly representing stories i feel that i have the ability to do all of these thing. No, i know that i have the power to do all these things. Because media is so broad and the audience so vast i now understand that to achieve my goal/dream
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Self gratification! I should probably lie to y’all and say that the most rewarding part of what i do is the ability to help others and spread positive vibes in an effort to better lives. But im selfish, and the truth of the matter is that being behind the camera is more than just satisfying to me, it provides this sense of serenity/peace to come into my life. This feeling is like something I’ve never felt.. I can’t really give you some verbal pitch that would explain what i feel, however, what i do know is that any results produced through my work behind the camera are perks in my journey to make up for past life decisions and rid myself of negative vibes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: jj.avi_photography
- Facebook: jjaviphotography
- Email: [email protected]