Purses: They carry all sorts of useful sundries such as pens, business cards, lipstick, and gum. Most importantly, purses carry money.In Haiti, where 54 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day, microfinance organization Fonkoze is helping women build businesses that feed their families, lift them out of poverty and pad their purses with a bit of cash.

Last week at a Fonkoze community meeting in Mirebalais, I noticed the variety of handbags women carried around. Many bags were black. Some were small. All seemed to be carried with pride by their owners. I had been looking for a way to visually connect non-Haitians with Haitians in a way that wasn’t patronizing or demeaning; here was my way. Many women around the world carry handbags and can relate to carrying a purse that reflects her personality and style.

The Fonkoze women were more than happy to be photographed with their purses. They patiently waited in line while I photographed woman after woman against the exterior white wall of an old church. Women who didn’t bring handbags to the meeting borrowed one from a friend. Everyone wanted to be photographed. I had fun watching the different ways women chose to hold their bags. Some held them, others clutched them, some hung them around their neck, which really made me laugh. You can see all the portraits on Bread for the World’s blog.

The photographs in this slideshow are part of “Launch,” the Women Photojournalists of Washington‘s 2nd annual juried exhibit. (Can you guess which picture is mine? Hint: it’s kind of a patriotic photograph.) If you’re in the DC area, be sure to come to our opening reception at Honfleur Gallery on Saturday, November 7, right at the start of FotoWeek DC.

Everyone jostled their way out of the bus and spread out in an empty dirt parking lot in the waning twilight. The bus driver cranked up a CD of dance music. I suddenly realized all the Yaemi Hanbok employees were going to dance. And this after a four-hour bus ride to Jingpohu (a national park in Heilongjiang province) that started at 4am and 10 hours spent walking and hiking and wandering and eating and playing. Even Yaemi Hanbok founder Ryu Sung-ok in her pink company t-shirt joined the dance. I thought this was some spontaneous exertion but Johanna found out the factory workers start their work day with 30 minutes of dancing whenever possible, led by the girl above wearing white. Although I’m sure something like this wouldn’t fly in the US, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Certainly, it was an interesting way to end a company picnic.

While out for a walk today I happened upon Yanji Church, which was fined $7500 by the Chinese government in 2005 for harboring North Korean refugees. I didn’t come here to find North Korea refugee-related stories but they seem to find me anyway.