We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Skylar Alves. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Skylar below.
Skylar, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
My nonprofit organization AFFINITY, is a branch of James Storehouse Foster Care Center and Storyvillage, where I collaborated with Jessi Bierling to give free photoshoots to girls in or aging out of the foster care organization. Girls from 18-24 have a high chance of becoming homeless or returning to bad environments, and they need to be reminded that they are loved! God used me by giving me a passion for portraits and a desire to show others their internal beauty through their external smile. I did photoshoots, brand shoots, model shots, headshots, baby showers, bridal showers, pregnancy photos, and more for these incredible women, some of whom had never had their photos taken before.
Skylar, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Skylar Alves, I am an agriculture communication student at Cal Poly, and during my freshman year of high school, I found a love for photography. My high school teacher, Mr. Hessemer, coached me and trained me in my love for creative writing, storytelling, visual art, and connecting with others. My friend and I randomly came up with the idea of connecting with the nearby foster care system, for my aunt had recently adopted and we wanted to give back to the community. Our high school advisor connected us with the head of communications at James Storehouse, who is now a good friend and mentor. She met with social workers to schedule different photoshoots for girls aging out of the foster care system based on their needs. I worked my way up to James Storehouse events such as photographing the back-to-school bash and fundraising gala. Eventually, I joined my teacher’s nonprofit, StoryVillage, and I co-authored a book on the Down syndrome community and its irrefutable, valuable place in society. It’s called Just Like You Volume II. This allowed me to write and connect with a people group I had never met before, and I got to speak about this at the Gigi’s playhouse Gala, to whom we donated the book. I am most proud of the connections I’ve made and my effort to branch out to communities that are silenced in our world.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My life mission behind this nonprofit is to do something I’m passionate about that betters the lives of others. The goal behind my photography nonprofit was to help others find themselves through their smile, and an hour of dedicated time that shows them they are TRULY SPECIALLY CREATED for a purpose! this mission not only helped others find themselves, but it helped me find myself. It made me realize that life is too short to be doing something you don’t love, and making a difference in other’s lives just might solve problems in your own life.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn privilege honestly. I am not one to say that I’m spoiled or entitled, but I’ve certainly been blessed with a life and parents that enable me to reach my goals. To sympathize with people in the foster care system, I had to realize that not everyone in my community lives in a bubble, and girls my age were going through more trauma daily than I ever had. It was eye-opening to see that you don’t have to travel to another country to make a difference, rather, you can do it in your backyard, your community, or your own home. The other lesson I had to unlearn was my unconscious ability to judge others on preconceived notions. After speaking with girls in the foster care system and what they go through, how they handle it in their ways, and the things they do to cope, I realized the worst thing I can do is judge others because that’s the last thing I would want if I were struggling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276011741439?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&customid=4fa345b2ae3b1c89ce63205cc9065d79
- Instagram: Project_affinity
- Facebook: skylar alves
- Linkedin: SkylarAlves
- Other: Other insta: Skylars_Snapshots
Image Credits
Skylar Alves