I’ve had this Polaroid of myself for years(yes that's me on the left) — taken when I was living in Toronto Community Housing at Cataraqui Crescent (Block 13). The Ninja Turtles had come by, and someone snapped it. For the longest time it was just a picture I carried with me.

It wasn’t until recently, while working with the Kickback Foundation and making new Polaroids with the community at Empringham, that the connection clicked. I realized I was doing for others what someone once did for me: creating an image that might outlast the moment, an image rooted in place and memory.

That realization stopped me. From being photographed in housing as a kid, to now photographing and archiving stories across Toronto’s communities, the camera feels like it’s moving in circles — reminding me that the work isn’t just about looking back, but also about giving forward.

Thank you to Jamal and the Kickback Foundation for bringing me into this space, and to everyone in Empringham who stood in front of the camera.

Photo Credit: Top Left: Own | Top Right and Bottom: Lee Cambu