SOMA NJ 3D Printer Alliance: Two Teachers are #SOMAWESOME {Maplewood, NJ, South Orange, NJ}

These two South Orange Middle School (SOMS) teachers are #SOMAWESOME. #SOMAWESOME means super amazing, charitable humans in the Maplewood/South Orange community.

They are going above and beyond to make sure our front line workers are protected. 

Jake Ezzo (Chorus Director) and Brandon Hillman (Language Arts) are middle school educators by day, 3D face shield printers by night. They have single-handedly organized hundreds of local volunteers to print, assemble, and deliver over 12,000 face shields to physicians, nurses, and medical staff during this global pandemic.

Many of the volunteers are Ezzo and Hillman's SOMS students and families, as well as their friends and neighbors throughout Maplewood and South Orange. They are printing visor pieces on 3D printers (each piece takes one hour). Then they are assembling the visors with elastic and clasps, and then making sure they get into the right hands at medical facilities across NJ, NY, and PA. 

Watch video —>

SOMA NJ 3D PRINTING ALLIANCE INTERVIEW with Jamie of @livelovemaplewood Join the FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/229730458086592 https://www.gofund...

When Ezzo and Hillman are not organizing this massive face shield effort, they are writing and composing songs (check this new one out!) to keep their students spirits up during this time.

Please take a minute to check out the links here and thank these teachers for being such incredible role models and citizens.

Join their Facebook group to help with assembly.
Follow their efforts on Instagram!

Donations greatly appreciated.

FLAG of SOMA - Nourishment for Healthcare Workers {Maplewood + South Orange, NJ}

What a privilege! Thank you to FLAG of SOMA founders Ava Martin, Barbara Santoro and Roshni Patel for taking the time to talk to me about FLAG today. These three are simply amazing. The amount of love, energy, and time they are devoting to this cause is extraordinary.

So, what is FLAG? You’ll have to watch the video to find out. ;) In a nutshell, FLAG (Front Line Appreciation Group) of South Orange and Maplewood is a group dedicated to feeding front line healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic, while also keeping SOMA local restaurants in business.

This video tells you how FLAG of SOMA started, why this initiative is so important, how restaurants can get involved, and more!

Donations are greatly appreciated - thank you for your support!

Join their Facebook group and follow them on Instagram!

I had the privilege of speaking with the FLAG of SOMA founders about how they are helping the Maplewood/South Orange community (and beyond) in numerous ways....

After Much Thought

March 29, 2020

After much, much, MUCH consideration I’ve decided to not carry out any professional photo sessions for the next who-knows-how-many weeks. I struggled with this decision a lot.

It’s my instinct to want to celebrate and find joy in dark times. I believe photo sessions can bring happiness and light. When there’s stress in a family, letting loose together can be therapeutic. When we are faced with negative messages and images, cheerful photos of children and babies can make us smile and forget our troubles. When we’ve been in sweats and messy hair for weeks it feels good to put on makeup and feel glamorous for an hour.

And yes, I can try and do all of this at a safe 6 foot distance. But here’s the thing - it wouldn’t be my best work. It wouldn’t be fair to you or me. I believe it would still be putting us at risk - it is simply not worth it. I have been trying to flatten the curve as much as possible. My family and I have been home for over two weeks with no social interaction and it seems irresponsible and silly to change that now.

I hope you understand, I hope you stick with me when this is all over. I can’t wait to take your pictures again, to run and play with your kids in the park, to capture your beauty and confidence, to make even more memories together.

For now, stay safe, be well, and appreciate your health and togetherness as best as you can. And if you need to hide in the bathroom and scream that’s totally fine too!

With love,
Jamie

PS - Please check out my daily photo journal - thank you.

Day by Day Photo Journal - March- April 2020

Not going to sugar coat it - this is a personal project to prevent going completely bat-sh*t crazy.

Documenting our days at home while are social distancing and quarantining to "flatten the curve" and keep ourselves and others safe and healthy. This is one wild ride.

There’s lots of basketball, chalk art, movies, school work, walking, neighbors over the fence, hide and seek, drawing, writing, community food drive, and thank goodness for the flowers blooming. Trying to wrap my head around what's happening, this photo project is my therapy.

View my “Day by Day” Photo Journal here.

In This Together, April 5, 2020

In This Together, April 5, 2020