Mountain provisions Co-op LIFESTYLE and Branding session - Lake Arrowhead, CALIFORNIA

I’ve been struggling to find words these past few days.

Friday night, on the way home from seeing my biggest inspiration Rachel Hollis, I open instagram to see post alluding to losing one of the members of the Mountains Provisionary Co-Op that I so proudly documented just a few months prior. As I arrived home and opened my phone once more, I was immediately covered in chills with tears rolling down my eyes.

Lauri, the owner of a store called MagPi here in the mountains was murdered right outside her shop defending the pride flag she so proudly flew right outside her store.

A senseless hate crime.
A senseless hate crime here in our sacred mountains.
A senseless hate crime towards an inspirational ally of the LGBTQ+ here in our sacred mountains.

My heart is shattered. 

And my deepest condolences go to her family and this community. 

Although I didn’t know her personally, I knew her through being involved in this community, here on the mountain that I have never felt more at home in and through documenting her alongside the other remarkable founding members of the co-op. 

During those few hours and the following months of seeing those photos on their website and on flyers around the mountain, a pride penetrated my being as the values of this community are truly so inspirational.

Honoring and creating space for all.

Something that I aligned so deeply with and honor so fully in every aspect of my being.

For locals or anyone in support to Lauri, there will be a vigil coming soon! I will share more info once I have it! 

Please continue to honor her legacy and hold space for her, her family, community and the impact her murder has had on our mountain.

The answer is love.
Always choose love. 
Hate has no place here. 
Discrimination has no place here.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜