Hello!
Meet Sam, Sunshine, and VaShawn - the next three subjects in the 111 Faces of Klamath Falls project.
Sam - 7
Sam - 7/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “Music!”
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “I’m pretty good at learning things.”
Q: Do you have a life dream or goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: “I would like to create interactive media that teaches people things about themselves.”
Sam spoke passionately about this, to the point that I couldn’t even keep up with him - both intellectually, and with my note-taking! He summarized this concept to me as succinctly as possible and described his idea as a “VR empathy machine.” Sam is working toward this dream by pursuing a degree and learning all aspects of digital media, digital design, and emerging media.”
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: Sam would like to solve the problem of a lack of critical thinking and rational thought. Sam explained that in our current world, our ability to form our own individual thoughts and opinions is declining. He sees value in critical thinking so that people have the ability to form an opinion that wasn’t fed to them by someone else.
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (Do you have a personal legacy statement?)
A: “I don’t even care if I’m remembered, “ Sam laughed, as he answered this question. After some thought, he added, “I just want the world to be a better place.”
Sunshine - 8
Sunshine - 8/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “People showing love to each other.”
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “I absolutely love my job! It’s my reigning passion, and I’m fed by it every day!”
Sunshine is an occupational therapist assistant. She opted to be photographed in her mask, as it’s part of our current time in history and it’s life right now. It was important for her to find a translucent mask to wear on the job, so that her patients could still see her smiling face.
Q: Do you have a life dream or goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: “My life goal is to make change in the dementia treatment realm.” Sunshine is furthering her education and is in pursuit of her masters.
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: Sunshine explained that her idea for a solution to help our economy and job creation, is to improve our medical and social services infrastructure & systems so that everyone in this country has access to: medical care, social care, mental health care, and companionship for those who are isolated. If everyone had access to this care, rather than drain our economy, it would increase and stabilize our economy.
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (Do you have a personal legacy statement?)
A: “That I left the place better than I found it.”
I’ve only known Sunshine for a few months now, but I’m certain that she leaves everyone she meets, better than how she found them. (Myself included.) I’ve observed Sunshine, on numerous occasions, as she interacts with homeless people in our community. She gives them respect, compassion, and love…and if she can help them in some way more than that, she does. Sunshine’s love is strong, as strong as her desire and pursuit of social justice and change in our community. She is fierce in both her love of people, and as a social justice warrior. Indeed, you will be remembered as one who left this place better than you found it.
VaShawn - 9
VaShawn - 9/111
Q: What’s something that brings you delight?
A: “My Daughters!”
Q: What’s something great about yourself? (a trait or accomplishment)
A: “I was born,” VaShawn said jokingly, before answering, “I have 3 beautiful daughters, and I’m a damn good driver and tow truck operator.”
Q: Do you have a life dream or goal, and how are you working towards it?
A: My goal is to have my own transport truck. VaShawn is working towards his goal by flipping cars.
Q: Is there a problem for which you have a solution?
A: “The problem is the racism that happens in this town, and that nothing happens about it. The solution is - to leave!”
VaShawn’s response is heart-breaking. I’m sad to find out that VaShawn has decided to move.
I wanted this to be a positive project, and this answer is not a positive outcome to the problem that exists here. Life isn’t always positive…no matter how optimistic we are. VaShawn’s voice needs to be heard. Racism is a serious issue here, and one that needs to be addressed, so I didn’t try to sway VaShawn to answer differently. VaShawn is also a friend, and our community has failed him. I’m sad and I’m angry to learn that VaShawn has decided to move.
VaShawn is a new friend. We met this summer at the first Black Lives Matter protest in our small rural town. Klamath Falls made national news when Black Lives Matter protesters were met with armed counter-protesters and “patriots.” The Black Lives Matter protesters were friends and neighbors, students and teachers, parents and children…and they were met with armed counter-protesters who believed a dumb rumor that bus loads of Antifa were headed to Klamath Falls to cause destruction. VaShawn was actually the first person I met and talked with at the afternoon BLM protest. (It was the later evening protest where Klamath citizens armed themselves against BLM protesters.)
Although the armed response by our community was unimaginable and unacceptable, something good did come from that horrible night. It was a clear tipping point for our community. Our town could no longer hide or deny our problem with racism.
The Klamath Falls City Council formed an Equity Task Force, in part, as a response to the armed counter-protesters. The first order of business for the Equity Task Force - we asked for our city to pass a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
VaShawn gave compelling public testimony to our City Council, sharing his lived experiences with racism in Klamath. I won’t go into specific detail regarding the incidents that I know VaShawn has experienced, because I didn’t ask him if I could share that here on the blog. VaShawn’s public testimony just scratched the surface of his experiences here. VaShawn shared that he has twice experienced blatant racism at two separate places of employment. There was ZERO problem resolution when VaShawn notified his employers of the incidents. VaShawn left both jobs. Although VaShawn’s compelling testimony prompted a personal apology from our Mayor, our City Council still wouldn’t pass the resolution to declare racism either a “public health crisis,” or a “societal crisis.”
Eventually, the city council did pass a re-written/re-worded and slightly diluted resolution that condemns racism and recognizes the individual, societal, and economic harm caused by racism. Equity will now be a guiding principle in all decision-making and policy. This is still major progress for Klamath Falls, and I know that VaShawn’s testimony was a contributing factor in the Council’s decision to approve the modified equity resolution. It’s still a win, but sadly, that victory it is too little, and too late, for VaShawn.
I’m sad for VaShawn. I’m sad he feels his only option is to move. The exodus of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color from our community is absolutely not the solution to the problem of racism here. VaShawn made an impact by sharing his personal lived experiences. We can do better as a community. VaShawn, I’m sorry you’ve experienced this in Klamath Falls. We will continue the fight for progress, equality, opportunity, and for a safe and equitable community for all. Thank you for your friendship, your strength, and your protection. You helped our community in your job, I’m just so sad that our community didn’t help you in return.
Best wishes for happiness and success…and for your own transport truck.
Q: How would you like to be remembered? (Do you have a personal legacy statement?)
A: “I want to be remembered as being happy and always smiling.” VaShawn added, “I try to keep a smile on my face, regardless of what I’m going through.”
I will remember you as someone who was always happy, and always had a kind word. You will be missed when you move.
Sam, Sunshine, and VaShawn - thank you for letting me take your picture for this project! And thank you for reading along.
See you next week!