Ferrato, Donna

Ferrato, Donna

Donna Ferrato (born 1949) is a photojournalist and activist known for her coverage of domestic violence and her documentation of the New York City neighborhood of Tribeca. Ferrato has worked for Life, Time, People, The New York Times, and Mother Jones. Her photographs have won various awards and have appeared in solo exhibitions in museums and galleries. She has been a member of the executive board of directors for the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund and was president and founder of the non-profit Domestic Abuse Awareness (501-c3).

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Artworks by Ferrato, Donna

7:00 A.M.: Margie rides the train to her job-training class in downtown Chicago. Accompanying her is Cherilyn, a resident at the Olive Branch who recently found a job as a home-care worker.

7:00 A.M.: Margie rides the train to her job-training class in downtown Chicago. Accompanying her is Cherilyn, a resident at the Olive Branch who recently found a job as a home-care worker.

Ferrato, Donna
In the CARA job-training program, Margie is hungry for knowledge and eager to participate in her studies. She takes copious notes and never hesitates to ask questions. I can see her sense of self-worth returning. I was lucky to meet Margie at a time when she was ready to take control over her life. I spent time riding with her to CARA, and met many people in the same situation. I realize now that being homeless is nothing like the fantasy sleeping on the street, wearing shabby clothes, begging for money. The homeless people I met looked just like me.

In the CARA job-training program, Margie is hungry for knowledge and eager to participate in her studies. She takes copious notes and never hesitates to ask questions. I can see her sense of self-worth returning. I was lucky to meet Margie at a time when she was ready to take control over her life. I spent time riding with her to CARA, and met many people in the same situation. I realize now that being homeless is nothing like the fantasy sleeping on the street, wearing shabby clothes, begging for money. The homeless people I met looked just like me.

Ferrato, Donna
Boys in the shelter hug Pierre Garrett after a tearful confrontation with his mother. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Boys in the shelter hug Pierre Garrett after a tearful confrontation with his mother. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
I rarely saw kids in the shelter play. Shelter life is a serious game. This baby waits anxiously for his mama to take him to bed. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

I rarely saw kids in the shelter play. Shelter life is a serious game. This baby waits anxiously for his mama to take him to bed. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
Margie's son, Jamont, 9, watches from his perch on a bunk bed as his mother chooses a dress for her job-training class. In the United States an alarming number of children are homeless. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Margie's son, Jamont, 9, watches from his perch on a bunk bed as his mother chooses a dress for her job-training class. In the United States an alarming number of children are homeless. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
The bathroom at the mission is dreary at best, with holes in the walls and floor, peeling lead paint, no toilet paper, showers without handles. Mothers nevertheless keep their children scrupulously clean, singing praise to God. Here, Renee cleans her daughters face with plenty of elbow grease. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

The bathroom at the mission is dreary at best, with holes in the walls and floor, peeling lead paint, no toilet paper, showers without handles. Mothers nevertheless keep their children scrupulously clean, singing praise to God. Here, Renee cleans her daughters face with plenty of elbow grease. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
All the other mothers loved Margie, who gave kids free professional haircuts every night. Hopefully, with luck and hard work, her positive attitude will take her far up and away from homelessness. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

All the other mothers loved Margie, who gave kids free professional haircuts every night. Hopefully, with luck and hard work, her positive attitude will take her far up and away from homelessness. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
A young woman holds her baby brother high. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

A young woman holds her baby brother high. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
Standing between their bunk beds, Margie admires her four sons: Johnny, 13, Pierre, 11, Jamont, 9, and Johnnell, 11. She always took care of her kids until she fell in love with a drug addict and became addicted herself. Her children's world fell apart and they became homeless residents at the mission. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Standing between their bunk beds, Margie admires her four sons: Johnny, 13, Pierre, 11, Jamont, 9, and Johnnell, 11. She always took care of her kids until she fell in love with a drug addict and became addicted herself. Her children's world fell apart and they became homeless residents at the mission. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
The Olive Branch is a dark, oppressive space, but it gets the message across to the women who stay there that the solutions to their problems are in their own hands. Ignoring distractions, Margie finishes her homework for job-training class. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

The Olive Branch is a dark, oppressive space, but it gets the message across to the women who stay there that the solutions to their problems are in their own hands. Ignoring distractions, Margie finishes her homework for job-training class. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
At 5:45 a.m.Tuesday morning, Margie sprints out of bed to wash and dress herself for her second day of job training at CARA in downtown Chicago. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

At 5:45 a.m.Tuesday morning, Margie sprints out of bed to wash and dress herself for her second day of job training at CARA in downtown Chicago. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna
Sunday morning, Margie demonstrates the love and affection she has for her son, Pierre. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Sunday morning, Margie demonstrates the love and affection she has for her son, Pierre. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.

Ferrato, Donna