BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities) Executive Director Angela Lang and her team discuss their strategies for informing the public about the upcoming local and presidential election at their office in Milwaukee, Wis. Photographed for Zora.
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC Executive Director Angela Lang stands for a portrait in BLOC’s offices Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff members gather to vote for endorsement committee candidates within their organization at their office in Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff member Derrick Pouncey, 45, talks with other staff members at their office in Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff member Amari Rucker, 21, responds to conversation about running for an endorsement committee position in the BLOC offices in Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff members Joann Robinson, 26, right, and Amari Rucker, 21, left, canvass in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff members (left to right) Joann Robinson, 26, Amari Rucker, 21, and Tamer Malone, 21, canvass in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. and talk with resident Latonya Martin, 40, outside her home Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff member Tamer Malone, 21, canvasses in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC staff member Tamer Malone, 21, canvasses in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. and talks with resident Latonya Martin, 40, outside her home Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: The offices for BLOC, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, in Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
MILWAUKEE, WIS. Ð Oct. 17, 2019: BLOC Executive Director Angela Lang stands for a portrait outside BLOC’s offices Milwaukee, Wis. Oct. 17, 2019. Photo by Lauren Justice
LAKE MILLS, WIS. – Dec. 6, 2019: Ethan James at home in Lake Mills, Wis. Dec. 6, 2019. James works multiple jobs in an effort to pay down crippling student debt. Photo by Lauren Justice for Buzzfeed NewsLAKE MILLS, WIS. – Dec. 6, 2019: Ethan James at home in Lake Mills, Wis. Dec. 6, 2019. James works multiple jobs in an effort to pay down crippling student debt. Photo by Lauren Justice for Buzzfeed NewsLAKE MILLS, WIS. – Dec. 6, 2019: Ethan James at home in Lake Mills, Wis. Dec. 6, 2019. James works multiple jobs in an effort to pay down crippling student debt. Photo by Lauren Justice for Buzzfeed NewsLAKE MILLS, WIS. – Dec. 6, 2019: Ethan James at home in Lake Mills, Wis. Dec. 6, 2019. James works multiple jobs in an effort to pay down crippling student debt. Photo by Lauren Justice for Buzzfeed News
I traveled to Dubuque, Iowa with Juliet Macur of The New York Times to talk with Sisters who knew Sister Jean before her involvement with Loyola’s basketball team in the NCAA tournament made her famous. Read the piece here: https://nyti.ms/2ucArnD
DUBUQUE, IA-MARCH 21, 2018: (left to right) Pat Donahoe BVM, 86, Bernadet McGanigal BVM, 83, Carolyn Farrell BVM, 83, and Margaret McCulloch BVM, 78, outside the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa Wed. March 21, 2018, where they met Sister Jean. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesDUBUQUE, IA-MARCH 21, 2018: A bobble head of Sister Jean, made in 2011, stays on display at the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesDUBUQUE, IA-MARCH 21, 2018: The bracket of Margaret McCulloch BVM, 78, at the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa Wed. March 21, 2018. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesDUBUQUE, IA-MARCH 21, 2018: Friends and acquaintances of Sister Jean talk about her newfound fame at Loyola University during March Madness at the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa Wed. March 21, 2018. Lauren Justice for The New York Times
James Card and Joe Drape wrote about the change in bat standards for USA Baseball. I went to a little league practice in Waupaca, Wisconsin to see the bats and meet some of the players and families affected by the expensive requirements.
WAUPACA, WI-MAY 20, 2018: Ryder Vergauwen, 10, yells in excitement while holding a new USA Baseball approved bat after hitting a home run in home run derby at the end of practice. Players on the 10U Waupaca baseball team practice Sunday, May 20 at Swan Park in Waupaca, Wisc. USA Baseball has created a new standard for baseball bats that requires a specific barrel size, rendering most previously approved bats unacceptable for play. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesWAUPACA, WI-MAY 20, 2018: Assistant Coach Brian Hoezel hits balls with a bat that is no longer approved for play by USA Baseball. Players on the 10U Waupaca baseball team practice Sunday, May 20 at Swan Park in Waupaca, Wisc. USA Baseball has created a new standard for baseball bats that requires a specific barrel size, rendering most previously approved bats unacceptable for play. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesWAUPACA, WI-MAY 20, 2018: John Zeamer, 10, poses for a portrait with his new USA Baseball approved bat Sunday, May 20 at Swan Park in Waupaca, Wisc. USA Baseball has created a new standard for baseball bats that requires a specific barrel size, rendering most previously approved bats unacceptable for play. Lauren Justice for The New York TimesWAUPACA, WI-MAY 20, 2018: Austin Aclanczak, 10, in the batting cage with a new USA Baseball approved bat. Players on the 10U Waupaca baseball team practice Sunday, May 20 at Swan Park in Waupaca, Wisc. USA Baseball has created a new standard for baseball bats that requires a specific barrel size, rendering most previously approved bats unacceptable for play. Lauren Justice for The New York Times
I met and photographed Wren Vetens at her home in Madison, Wisconsin for a collaborative project called Bill of the Month between Kaiser Health News and NPR. Vetens was struggling with payment and insurance surprises regarding her confirmation surgery and the article discusses the ups and downs of her process. You can read about her experience in multiple places:
Wren Vetens, 24, at home in Madison, Wis. Monday June 25, 2018. Vetens underwent genital reconstruction surgery and battled unexpected medical costs. Photo by Lauren Justice
The Ben Franklin store in Monona was a community staple on a month-to-month lease. The new owner of the building decided not to renew their lease. Read the story here.
MADISON, WI-JUNE 11, 2018: Customers buy what they can in the last days of business at The Ben Franklin store in Monona Monday, June 11, 2018. Tom Retzlaff, one of the owners, checks out a customer at the counter. The business’ landlord is not renewing their month-to-month lease. Lauren Justice for IsthmusMADISON, WI-JUNE 11, 2018: Customers leave notes of encouragement and love in the last days of business at The Ben Franklin store in Monona Monday, June 11, 2018. The business’ landlord is not renewing their month-to-month lease. Lauren Justice for IsthmusMADISON, WI-JUNE 11, 2018: Donna Birchfield, 50, has found a cart full of items to purchase in the last days of business at The Ben Franklin store in Monona Monday, June 11, 2018. Birchfield is saddened by the loss of the store, and the nostalgia that comes with a community staple like this. The business’ landlord is not renewing their month-to-month lease. Lauren Justice for IsthmusMADISON, WI-JUNE 11, 2018: Aisles are being cleared out in the last days of business at The Ben Franklin store in Monona Monday, June 11, 2018. The business’ landlord is not renewing their month-to-month lease. Lauren Justice for IsthmusMADISON, WI-JUNE 11, 2018: Customers buy what they can in the last days of business at The Ben Franklin store in Monona Monday, June 11, 2018. The business’ landlord is not renewing their month-to-month lease. Lauren Justice for Isthmus
I spent a week in the winter of 2017 with reporter John Stanton on the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin to meet and talk with people affected by the shooting of 14-year-old Jason Pero by Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich.
Stanton writes, “The lack of information since Jason’s shooting has only compounded tensions here, laying bare the deep-rooted, systemic racial divisions between the Bad River tribe and the white community of Ashland. ‘This has been going on for generations and generations, and it’s not going to stop,’ Bigboy said.
Read the piece here and view published and unpublished images below.
ODANAH, WI-NOV. 27, 2017: The sun rises over The Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin Nov. 27, 2017. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-NOV. 27, 2017: A memorial has been set up and tended to by neighbors on The Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. Jason Pero, a 14-year-old, was shot and killed by Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8, 2017. Flowers, photos, candles, and messages have been placed against the water tower next to Pero’s home. Pero was killed while walking down the street next to his home. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsASHLAND, WI-NOV. 28, 2017: Sandra Gokee, a family member of Jason Pero, was placed on paid administrative leave after posting what Ashland Superintendent Keith Hilts describes as defamatory and inflammatory posts on social media. Pero, 14, was shot and killed by Ashland County SheriffÕs Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8, 2017. Gokee is holding her daughter, Ali Nevala, 1, on her lap. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-NOV. 29, 2017: Mike Wiggins Jr, Bad River Tribal Chairman, poses for a portrait at The Chief Blackbird Center on the Bad River Indian Reservation. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsASHLAND, WI-NOV. 30, 2017: The Ashland County Law Enforcement Center in Ashland, Wis. Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich shot and killed Jason Pero, 14, on the Bad River Indian Reservation on Nov. 8, 2017. In August of 2016, Corrections Officer Christopher Bond killed himself after he was caught sexually assaulting female inmates at the jail. There are currently five women filing lawsuits against Ashland County, the county sheriff and the county jail administrator sexual assault and harassment. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsASHLAND, WI-NOV. 28, 2017: Jason Pero’s grandmother, Cheryl Pero. Jason Pero, 14, was shot and killed by Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8, 2017 on the street outside of his home. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsASHLAND, WI-NOV. 28, 2017: Pictures and a poem written by Jason Pero. Pero, 14, was shot and killed by Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8, 2017. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsASHLAND, WI-NOV. 30, 2017: Councilman Richard Ketring poses for a portrait at his business in Ashland, Wis. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates on US Highway 2 during a unity walk. Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized the community unity walk to begin outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot and continue to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Vinny Bender, 13, one of Jason Pero’s best friends, speaks into the megaphone during the start of the walk. Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Supporters of Jason Pero run on the side of US Highway 2 during the community unity walk. Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Sandy Gokee, Jason Pero’s cousin, during the community walk. Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Family, friends, and community members stop for a break during the 11 mile walk to Ashland. Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-DEC. 02, 2017: Drummers welcome the walkers into Ashland. Jason Pero’s eighth grade classmates organized a community unity walk from outside Pero’s home on The Bad River Indian Reservation where he was shot to downtown Ashland for a total of 12 miles. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed NewsODANAH, WI-NOV. 27, 2017: Jason Pero’s neighborhood, Maple Street, on The Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. Pero, a 14-year-old, was shot and killed by Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich on Nov. 8, 2017 while walking down the street next to his home. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed News
I visited Book World, a bookstore in West Bend, Wisconsin, on one of its last mornings of business. The 45-store chain is the fourth largest in the country and spans across the Upper Midwest. Founded in 1976, Book World has suffered due to e-commerce. Click on the link to read the full article in The New York Times.
I photographed Laura, a DACA recipient, for Progressive Magazine in the fall of 2017. Laura has worked out a potential living arrangement for her daughter in preparation for the possibility of deportation. She and her daughter met me at a park for a few portraits and asked that her identity be partially concealed.
Lauren Justice Photography Blog | Los Angeles, California 