Local stories from the project that has collectively raised over $1,250,000 for local organizations and nonprofits throughout the country.

June 11, 2020 

Kasia Pawlowska

The Front Steps Project started the day shelter-in-place took effect in the Bay Area on the other side of the country, in Needham, Massachusetts. Boston photographer Cara Soulia and her friend Kristen Collins wanted to highlight the faces of their community during a time when they would otherwise not be seen — within 24 hours, over 100 Needham residents asked to participate. Soon after, hundreds of photographers from around the country followed their lead and took to the streets. The project, which bears the hashtag #TheFrontStepsProject, currently has more than 35,000 photos associated with it on Instagram. This isn’t just navel gazing either. So far, the project has collectively raised over $1,250,000 for local organizations and nonprofits throughout the country including food pantries, hospitals, animal shelters and more. In Marin, photographers Scott Ellison and Amy Perl captured dozens of families — here are some who shared stories behind the portraits with us.

Binay, Jonathan, Aylin and Devin Curtis; Chewy and Dragon (dogs), Mill Valley

Binay Curtis

What do you do for a living? 

Binay: Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor and Media Trainer. Jonathan: Finance. Kids: Students.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and the people in the photo with you. 

During COVID-19, my zoom HIIT (High Inten- sity Interval Training) fitness classes have taken off so the family has all chipped in. Aylin, my daughter (15), is the social media manager, camerawoman and attends four classes per week. Devin, my son, is director of finance; he does many jobs behind the scenes and attends classes. Jon works full-time on his own finance business. The dogs are not allowed in the bedroom that has now become our home studio. We are “normal” Marinites and hike, bike and hang out with our dogs.

Why did you decide to have a photo session? 

We wanted to document this time in our lives — isn’t it crazy? We chose this pose because this class has taken over our household.

How have you found moments of joy?

Many! First of all, it’s incredible that my children are working out with me — health is my passion and it makes me feel so happy to see them getting healthier with me. On Sundays, it’s Quarantine Partner HIIT Day on Zoom, so my entire family participates. The kids demo with me in front of the camera. My daughter has been baking up a storm — all healthy, delicious gluten-free treats. We have definitely bonded over health. What other times would a mom and her teenagers connect so much? I have found an incredible community online through my fitness classes and have reconnected with old friends and expanded well beyond Marin with new friends and clients. During my classes, I have people from Chile, Argentina and Zurich (a mom in San Anselmo virtually works out with her son in Novato and in Zurich during my class!). So many silver linings. As for our family, we all come together at dinner and play a game after dinner. We used to eat together every night, but then we would go our separate ways. Now we play games or charades.

Anything else you would like to mention?

In the photo you will see Dragon, the black dog, rolling his eyes. We thought this was particularly funny because it’s like he’s saying, “Enough with you people, and where did we get the other animal from anyway?” Chewy, “the other animal” was recently adopted, about 2 months pre-COVID-19.

How has COVID-19 and the lockdown impacted you? 

We all need to chip in more than we ever had — financially, emotionally and domestically. It is a hard time but we are all helping to make every inch of our house work for us which isn’t always easy.