Durham, NC, USA
$500 - $1000 / Day
Leslie Baker is a photographer, filmmaker, and proud North Carolina native. After receiving a BFA in Photography from East Carolina University, Leslie moved to New York to work with Magnum photographer Steve McCurry. She then made her way to Durham, NC to study filmmaking at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke. She has produced, directed, filmed, and edited several independent projects, including the short documentary Las Mujeres de San Juan (The Women of San Juan). Leslie is interested in documenting the ever-changing people and culture in small Southern communities. Her work often explores themes of social inequality and female empowerment.
In a small southern town where half the residents are Spanish-speaking immigrants, San Juan Diego Catholic Church serves as a vital meeting place for the close-knit Latino community. This film offers an inside look at the church through the eyes of its female leaders.
Produced for Church World Service
One of the biggest obstacles facing refugees in the US is the inability to speak English. New refugees must hit the ground running and are expected to get a job and pay bills immediately after entering the US. However, without the necessary language skills, this is nearly impossible. Volunteers at CWS began teaching weekly English classes to help local refugees learn basic language skills.
In the summer of 1997, Willie "Buddy" Melvin collected wood from an old tobacco barn and constructed a tiny bar around his backyard tree. Then he added a kitchen. Then came the pool room and dance floor. For two decades, Buddy continued to gather found materials and incorporate them into what is now a 13,000 square foot structure.
Street portraits taken at the 2013 Pride parade in Durham, NC.
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