Seeing the Homeless Through the Lens of Love with Joe Photo

In this episode, Aaron talks with photographer and love coach Joe “Photo” Paulicivic about seeing through a different lens for the homeless and the release of his new photo book The Dirty Kids.

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Show Notes

 

:23 min

Aaron Talks:

 

Consider the good in humanity. Thats what this episode is all about. 

 

I ask you what does love look like to you? What does love look like when you approach someone else’s situation and what it would be like to be in their shoes?

 

What would love look like if you were living on the street? 

 

My Guest today Joe Paulicivic a photographer and love coach, has recently released a book of photographs to show us through his lens another look at homelessness. It’s a group, a community of homeless who call themselves the Dirty Kids. 

 

Joe spent several years making friends and collecting photos to share with you  a different perspective.

 

We are conditioned in our culture to assume a lot about our homeless. 

 

Maybe we cast judgments about their lifestyle.

Maybe we think they are lazy.

Maybe we see them as victims of society.

 

But is that absolutely true?

 

The Dirty Kids actually choose and accept being on the street as a lifestyle. They have formed a community mindset around sharing and being accepting of that fact that what ever they need will come to them, instead of living in fear of security. 

 

The rawness and realness of our conversation may even be shocking, but I would encourage you to consider this word on the street from Joe from a different lens, a compassionate one…

 

Here's a short excerpt from the forward by Father Richard Roar and what he had to say about Joe’s book of photographs. 

 

"It shows that clothing and table placement...

 

2:20 min

Joe first met the dirty kids in New Orleans 2010 and one of them wanted him to take a shocking photo.

 

4:30 min

March of 2014 Joe was wearing a Free Hug t-shirt and gave out free hugs to dirty kids

 

The dirty kids pride themselves on how dirty they can be, hopping trains

 

 

6:40 min

A strong connection happened at Mardi Gras when Joe started hugging the Dirty Kids.

 

Joe’s daughter was also on the brink of being on the street. She is what the Dirty kids would called a home bomb.

 

Dirty kids travel really light.

 

 

9 min

Every where he goes Joe hugs people, the dirty kids were no different to him.

 

Reggie one of the DK was one of the first kid Joe felt an open door to spend more time and connect. 

 

They developed more relationships by Joe photographing over 100 photographs of the Dirty Kids.

 

 

12:10 min 

Not many kids don’t make it to their 40s. Its a conscious choice for them to be on the streets. Many are orphans and they don’t want to be told what to do, so they made their own culture. 

 

Many of them are strong adventurous personalities on the street. They are artists and or free spirits.

 

They share everything with each other. They believe whatever they need will come to them. 

 

 

15:20

Many of are not as engaged with our community. So they’ve learned to share more. 

 

The general public often sees homelessness as a problem, but Joe sees them as not a problem. 

 

They are perceived as dangerous. 

 

 

18 min

Joe’s been a friend to them. He’s not trying to convert them into anything different, but an opportunity to exercise compassion. 

 

Joe would love the book to bring awareness and compassion for the homeless. 

 

It’s a deep paradigm to consider people that are different than us as not a problem. People tend to move in circles that are similar.

 

 

 

21 min

Joe is hopeful that this will be an opportunity for more discovery of our common humanity.

 

Joe is in a different place than 8 years ago when this started. He sees these kids who are typically scapegoats as opportunity to look at his own struggles and forgiveness.

 

These kids as a metaphor of living in the shadows, helps us recognize the shadows we live in. 

 

The security we look to can easily get shut down by things like COVID. Most of us are terrified about being on the streets. 

 

24:50 min

Joe compares the homeless to the leopards of Jesus’s day. Many of them have experienced loss and suffering. 

 

Through Joe’s lens, like his daughter, he sees so much shame that the Dirty Kids live in. But says they are not looking for pity, but human connection. 

 

 

27 min

Joe talks about eye contact being a great way to approach the homeless. 

 

In our society we’re not taught to make much eye contact or hug each other for prolong periods of time, which can see them just like everyone else.

 

It can help those feeling like victims, have more hope when you make eye contact and be more present with them. And then it can open real conversations.

 

30 min

Relationships begin with acknowledgment and then curiosity.

 

The Dirty Kids will surprise you with their grace and perspective. 

 

 

31:45 min

The book came out Dec 2021 and you get get a copy at joephoto.com

 

Joe’s hope is that the book would open eyes and hearts to consider a different experience with the homeless.

 

Not everyone is called to the level of trust and courage to approach the homeless. They can be unpredictable.

 

Joe hopes that others will see the common humanity between the homeless. 

 

As Joe began to tear up, he talks about the book ultimately being a healing experience for himself and his judgments.

 

The Dirty kids has helped him go into his shadows and seeing himself as equal. 

 

The book has been liberating for Joe, and a way to be a friend to the Dirty Kids.

 

 

35:30 min 

 

Thanks so much for listening.

Joephoto.com

 

If you’re looking to empower yourself out of harmful relationship patterns and claim your self-worth you can connect with Aaron here…

 

Instagram.com/aarontosti

Thekindoflove.com

 

You’ve been listening to TKOL Podcast

 

I’m Aaron

 

Best of Love to You