ABOUT The Project
Midnight Mission Seeks to "remove obstacles and provide the accountability and structure that people who are experiencing homelessness need to be productive in their communities. Our conviction and commitment to their success define us.” Ultimately, our project allows those who have experienced homelessness, to define their own success and stories versus allowing others to use their own misconceptions to define them. This is accomplished through the use of compelling photography and blurbs from interviews conducted with each interviewee.
Naomi Lilly is currently a junior at Duke University. Her major is African American
Studies. She also plans to obtain a double minor in Visual Media Studies and
Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. Naomi plans to pursue a career in Diversity and Inclusion work for entertainment. When asked why she wanted to pursue this project, Naomi said the following, "I have always had an interest in exploring the humanity found within people who are often marginalized. The homeless community and those who suffer from drug abuse, are among those people. The stereotypes that revolve around who is homeless and why, run rampant. Especially in LA where the homeless community is monumental, I wanted to hear from people who have experienced homelessness and addiction. It is important to recognize the humanity in people despite living conditions."
Bianca Umeakuana is a junior at Duke University majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Visual Media Studies and Theater Studies. She is passionate about diversity and representation within entertainment and business and hopes to find a way to incorporate it in her future career. Like many others, Bianca did not realize the extent of homelessness in Los Angeles until she moved there for a semester. Driven by her knack for storytelling and her desire to give a voice to those who are often not heard, Bianca jumped at the opportunity to give the Midnight Mission interviewees a platform to tell their powerful stories. She believes that the key to making change is humanizing issues and debunking harmful stereotypes.
Kennedy Ware is a junior at Duke University double majoring in Public Policy and Visual Media Studies. Kennedy believes that story-telling is one of the most powerful ways to connect people and foster a greater sense of empathy towards those with experiences that we may not be able to conceptualize otherwise. Similarly, Kennedy is highly interested in how the personal intersects with systemic issues, such as homelessness and addiction, By conducting interviews of those experiencing homeless and recovery, Kennedy aims to amplify the voices of those who are often overlooked and create a greater acknowledgment of the humanity of those so often limited by labels such as homeless or drug abuser.