Home is Where I'm Not

Like many young immigrants, Yemeni-American youth tow the line between the desire to uphold their family values and traditions and a yearning and curiosity to break away from established norms and welcome the new ways of their adopted country.

Whether born in Brooklyn to Yemeni parents, or recently arrived as some of the fortunate few to escape the raging war in Yemen, these youth struggle daily with defining and redefining their identities; as young men and women, as Yemenis living outside the comfortable cultural hegemony of their home, as young people curious at these new surroundings, as new Americans.

This ongoing project collaborates with Yemeni-American youth using photography to explore themes of identity, home, history, and coming of age.

Receiving the PHMuseum Grant would allow me to spend a concentrated amount of dedicated time with the youth that I have met, leading to deeper, more powerful work. While continuing to shoot stills, the grant would give me the financial capability to play with ideas involving moving images, and archival and book forms that I have yet to be able to manifest. I appreciate the chance to apply for this wonderful grant.