Alexis Borden: How the Other Half Lives

portrait of impoverished young black boy in Philadelphia

 

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Alexis Borden

One of the major problems in Philadelphia is Poverty. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Philadelphians live below the federal poverty level, including 39% of children, 27% of work-age adults and 17% of seniors. The United States is the richest nation, yet millions of Americans live below the poverty line. The word poverty provokes strong emotions and is a topic most people don’t fully understand. Poverty is arguably the most far-reaching, long-standing cause of chronic suffering there is. For a recent assignment, I decided I wanted to take a look at poverty and homelessness. I wanted to get a glimpse into how the “other half” lives. I see homeless people all around UPenn campus and typically when I see them I ignore them but for this project I sought them out.

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

poor woman in North Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

Poverty has many faces and changes from place to place and can be defined in multiple ways. Most people have a mental image of what they believe poverty and homelessness looks like based on their everyday interactions: a man sleeping on a steam vent, or panhandling for spare change on a street corner. But homelessness, like its causes, varies wildly from person to person and city to city, and touches many people who don’t fit traditional stereotypes. Five decades since President Lyndon B. Johnson began his so-called War on Poverty, poor Americans continue to struggle. Nearly a quarter of people in poverty have jobs, but their pay is so low that they still don’t have enough money to meet basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and health care. About 1,500 families become homeless every year. I visited Project Home on 1515 fairmount avenue and witnessed first hand what great shelters like this can do for people. 

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

impoverished white female Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

Poverty takes on a whole new face when it applies to children. Poverty and homelessness hits children the hardest. They need to grow up healthy but a lot of them don’t have this possibility. The worst thing is that hunger doesn’t affect only children’s’ health, but also their development in every way- emotional, physical and spiritual. Children are the most frequent users of emergency shelter, outnumbering adults almost 2 to 1. Although childhood is generally considered to be a time of joyful, carefree exploration, children living in poverty tend to spend less time finding out about the world around them and more time struggling to survive within it. Poor children have fewer and less-supportive networks than their more affluent counterparts do; live in neighborhoods that are lower in social capital; and, as adolescents, are more likely to rely on peers than on adults for social and emotional support.

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

african american child Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

african american child Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

boarded up homes, Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

Poverty and homelessness has been a consistent problem throughout history. No matter what the median income, unemployment or overall prosperity level is, there will always be people who are homeless and hungry.

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

homeless man digging in the trash, Philadelphia

cuban house painted in pink with rooster out front on the lawn

Photography and Text by Alexis Borden, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: Alexis Borden is a senior Biology and pre-med major at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.

Alexis Borden: Bloom

photography of alexis borden college roommate by alexis borden

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Posted on February 23, 2015 byAlexis Borden

Nicola and I were randomly matched together as roommates freshman year. We knew nothing of each other.  I didn’t know her favorite color, her favorite song, her favorite food, her dreams, her aspirations, her fears… and she of me.  Here we are four years later and I know more about her than I think she know about herself. I came to Penn not knowing anybody and I would have never thought 4 years later that I would have a new sister, a best friend, a confidant, a lifelong friend. She is absolutely beautiful, inside and out. She showed me that I can overcome any challenges that may be thrown at me during my lifetime, and believed in me when it seemed no one else would. She inspires me with her unrelenting faith and indominable spirit in any situation. We have seen each other at our highest highs and our lowest lows.

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ALEXIS-5

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portrait of woman looking dejected

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photo of young woman's back with side profile

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These photos represent the joys we have had together and also the sorrow and sadness we have carried each other through. At times just her presence saved me from abandoning my dreams.  Never in my life would I have imagined that one person in such a short time could have such a lasting impact on me. It was an easy choice to pick Nicola, because she has been my constant companion, and a daily inspiration to me for the past four years. She has one of the kindest souls I ever had the privilege to meet. The best gifts she has given me did not come in packages wrapped in red ribbon:  she gave me the ability to believe in myself, and taught me by example how important it is to put others first.  Sometimes people who are in your life only briefly leave a more lasting impression on you than those who have been with you forever. Because of her, I grow where I am planted, and am blooming into something truly spectacular. I am, without question, a better friend, teammate, sister, and overall, a better person because of her.  This project is a tribute to the one and only, Nicola Gale Barnes.

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semi nude young female wrapped in cloth

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Photography and Text by Alexis Borden, Copyright 2015

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About the Author: Alexis Borden is a senior Biology and pre-med major at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015.