George Elfie Ballis: Dedicated to Social Justice
As I was waiting for Friday night’s performance of Teatro de la Tierra’s play, ‘Esperanza and Luz,’ to begin, I noticed an older man setting up a video camera. There was something about the man that made me think: He must be someone special.
I introduced myself during intermission. The man was George Elfie Ballis, a photographer who has been documenting social justice movements for decades. In the spirit of this week’s cover story – which focuses on non-Latinos who are invested in the Latino community – I asked him what motivates him to film and photograph different causes.
Wherever people are trying to make the world a better place, I go film them,” he said. “That’s my mission.”
His exhibit “Taproot of Sí Se Puede” – a celebration of Chávez that includes 10 banners and 53 photographs of farmworkers – is on exhibit at the Cesar E. Chavez Adult Education Center in Fresno. His website also features a collection of his work.
