I met Hawa Sharif and her family about 15 years ago as part of a project helping families from Darfur, Sudan. At that time Darfur was experiencing a genocide. There is a large community of Darfurians living in Brooklyn.I was teaching Hawa English. We became friends and then family. 

As a photographer I wanted to document the loving family that I was becoming a part of. When i first met them there were mother, father, sister and 2 brothers. Now there has been added 2 more brothers and a sister. Most recently, due to recent continued strife in Sudan 6 more extended family members have come to Brooklyn. I continue to document their lives. I am grateful for their friendship.

I have been a serious film photographer for 20 years. Chuck Kelton was a mentor at ICP.

This is in reference to the photo project of the Sudanese American family. I have attached 4 scans of the pictures I would submit for the show.