Art of the Cowgirl
Art of the Cowgirl is five-day event that celebrates horsemanship and the artistic excellence of Western Women.
Haddie Clark, 12, rides her horse at the Art of the Cowgirl on Jan. 19, 2024. Haddie’s mother, Reata Clark, with Clark Ranch Horses & Performance Prospects, was introduced to Art of the Cowgirl by a friend and has attended the event ever since. She says that it’s the livelihood and womanhood of Art of the Cowgirl that makes people connect with the event.
Clockwise from top right, Arthur Lujan, Jennifer Lujan and Betty Lujan interact with horses on Jan. 19, 2024. Beth Godbey, who handled the horse, did a demonstration at Art of the Cowgirl showcasing the importance of connection with horses. The demonstration centered on Betty, who has a strong connection and communication with the animals, Godbey says. She says Art of the Cowgirl “is a place where cowgirls can connect and shine.”
From left, Jayla Reed, Lacey Richardson and Madison Kenny play with their band, The Reed Family, on Jan. 19, 2024. Their favorite music to play is fiddle and bluegrass. “We have had so much fun learning and performing songs that have been forgotten by many,” band member Brian Reed says.
Waylon Kenny pulls Breckin Reed in a wagon at Art of the Cowgirl on Jan. 19, 2024, in Queen Creek
Beau Bradshaw, 6, practices roping skills at Art of the Cowgirl on Jan. 19, 2024.
From left, Ashton Richardson, Anne Mae Reed and Devin Richardson take a break with their band, The Reed Family, on Jan. 19, 2024, at Art of the Cowgirl in Queen Creek. The band started playing in 1994, when violins were given to some of the family for Christmas. Two of the children already knew how to fiddle and taught the rest a song. One week later, on New Year’s Day, the family performed onstage at the Pinal County Fairgrounds. Since then, the family has added more guitar and bass to the ensemble. “The kids play multiple instruments and take turns playing them,” Brian Reed says. “We don’t perform on stage hardly anymore, but we sure have fun making music with the next generation.”
Lizee Jo Bradshaw, 9, pets dog at Art of the Cowgirl on Jan. 19, 2024.
Saving One Life
Saving One Life is a nonprofit organization that provides care for at-risk cats and dogs through foster and adoption programs.
Zoe Zaine, a cat from Saving One life waiting to be adopted by his new owner on Wednesday, Feb. 14, located at Petsmart in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cathy Christensen, volunteer at Saving One Life, pets cats during her shift at Petsmart on Wednesday, March 20, in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been volunteering for three years.
Saving One Life volunteer Kelly Stinson fosters cats in her home on Feb. 28, 2024, in Chandler. Stinson disagrees with the stereotype that cats are aloof and cold. “Whenever I hear people say they don’t want to be around humans or they’re aloof, I’ve never had that experience with a cat. I’m their person. I’m the one that sleeps on the bed with them. It’s unconditional love,” Stinson says.
Jojo Wangler, 7, Saving One Life volunteer, pets a cat on Feb. 14, 2024, at PetSmart in Phoenix. She volunteers with her mom, Rylie Wangler, and her sister to help cats and bond with her family.
Saving One Life volunteer Kelly Stinson feeds cats at the Kitty Pause Kitty Café in Mesa on Feb. 28, 2024. Kitty Pause Kitty Café partners with Saving One Life on cat adoptions.
Cats sniff each other at the Kitty Pause Kitty Café on Feb. 28, 2024, in Mesa.
Hank, one of Kelly Stinson’s foster cats, receives his deworming medicine on Feb. 28, 2024, in Chandler. Stinson has fostered a total of 75 cats, and all of them have found homes.
Zoe Zaine and Clover Kay, wait to be adopted on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Saving One Life location in PetSmart in Phoenix.
Saving One Life volunteer Kelly Stinson strives to gently remove cat off of paddle board in her home on Feb. 28, 2024, in Chandler.
Saving One Life volunteer feeds a cat colony on Feb. 20, 2024, at Tempe Marketplace.
From left, Hannah Galaxy, 10, and Cathy Christensen, volunteer at Saving One Life inside PetSmart in Phoenix on March 20, 2024. Christensen has been volunteering for three years.
The Singletons
The Singletons is a non-profit organization that supports single-parent families with cancer.
From left, Kareen Tyler, 4, Vanessa Sherman, attendees for The Singleton Care Day event, Sherman comforting her sick son on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Tilly Bowens, Case Management Director, Emily Varela, 8, The Singletons is a non-profit organization that supports single-parent families who battle cancer. Volunteers build meal kits and household supplies for their once a month Care Day on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
From left, Vanessa Sherman, Kareen Tyler, 4, and Kaleb Mack, 9, attendees of The Singleton Care Day, interacting and making crafts on Saturday, Feb. 17. Sherman’s son, Kaleb Mack suffers from leukemia, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
From left, Jayden Nyuma,4, Regina Daniel, attendees of The Singleton Care Day, making crafts together on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Herminia King, attendee of The Singletons Care Day, making an art craft on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona. King has stage one breast cancer.
From left, Tily Bowens, Case Management Director, Payton Foster, 10, Thell Foster, attendee of The Singleton Care Day. Thell Foster’s daughter Payton brings snacks for her mother on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
From left, Payton Foster, Christine Zampino, and Thell Foster, volunteers and attendees of The Singletons Care Day, Thell Foster is battling stage four lung cancer and has been a regular at this event for a few years. Zampino was diagnosed with Sarcoma, but has recovered and now comes to support other warriors such as Thell Foster going through cancer on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons care facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kids grab snacks for their parents on The Singleton Care Day on Saturday, Feb. 17, at The Singletons facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dedication and Dreams
Mary Nyangoma wakes up every morning with a smile and determination as she walks through the city of Kigali to her job at the Nyamirambo Women’s Center located in Downtown Kigali. Her passion is to provide education to women who lack resources, and wants to show others the legacy of the Nyamirambo Women's Center. Every morning at the Women’s Center starts with a tour in a room full of books that range from different languages, including Kinyarwanda, French, and English. Guests sit in wooden chairs as she stands in the center of the room and talks about the history and importance of the Women’s Center.
The Kigali Women's Center was launched at the end of 2007 by 18 Rwandese women living in Kigali. They created a project that aimed to address gender-based violence, inequality, and discrimination. This movement led to providing many forms of education, such as sewing, hair braiding, and basic computer skills. Mary Nyangoma runs the Women’s Center and started as a volunteer, which led to her working at the center as a project coordinator. After her brief introduction, she then responds to emails.
When she goes home, there is another side to Nyangoma that a lot of people don’t see. After work, she walks back home and enters a comfortable home with a range of greens, blues, and yellows. She enjoys cooking and making dishes for the people she loves and spends the rest of the night watching her favorite shows. She and her boyfriend are long distance, but they still maintain their love even on the days they are apart. Her eldest daughter lives in the United States and struggles to make ends meet, which is extremely hard for Mary, but showcases the strength she got from her mother. However, Nyangoma dreams of one day traveling to the United States to live her American dream.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, sits at her desk with her head bowed down and hands clasped before the start of her day on July 5 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda.
From left, Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, and her boyfriend, Kayitana John Bosco, enjoy a nice evening together before bed on July 5, 2024. Nyangoma and her boyfriend are both long distance.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, checks in on a class that teaches women how to sew. The Nyamirambo Women’s center is an organization that helps women gain an education, enabling them to one day start their own businesses. Classes include writing, sewing, reading, and braiding hair. Photo taken on July 6, 2024.
Worker from the Nyamirambo Women’s center sewing a piece of clothing for the store on July 6, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, organizes different pieces of clothing for the women’s center on July 6, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, organizes handbags at the women’s center on July 6, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma and her daughter, Hamida Umuhoza, relaxing at home together after a long day of work on July 6, 2024. Both Nyangoma and her daughter work at the women’s center.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, walking home from work on July 9, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, arrives home after work on July, 9, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, cooks chicken for boyfriend and daughter on July 8, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, prepares chicken for her family on July 8, 2024.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, reflects before going to bed on July 8, 2024.
From left, Mary Nyangoma, Founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center and daughter, Hamida Umuhoza watching television before another hard day at work on July 8, 2024
rom left, Hagenimana Jean de Dieu, Hamida Umuhoza, Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, making jokes at work with co-workers on July 5, 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda.
Mary Nyangoma, founder of Nyamirambo Women’s center, having fun presenting to tourists on July 5, 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda.
Streets of Kigali
Kigali is the largest city within Rwanda and is know as “The land of a thousand hills.” All of these photos were taken within the day to day lives on the Rwandan people.
