Evidence by Shelby Elaine:WE&Company Co-Founder Shares Her Story

Evidence: My Story

Shelby Wormley, President and Co-Founder of WE&Company ( Stage name Shelby Elaine) shares her personal story through an original poem accompanied by still images and videos that show the different chapters of her life. Often we are asked “What is your story” and struggle to pin point a place to begin. That is because so many events and moments in our life, whether good or bad, help to show us who we are. This piece is her attempt to capture her story as evidence.

“I’ve come to learn that our lives are not defined by one single moment, but we do have moments in our lives that show and reveal to us just what we’re made of. How you move through life when faced with trials and adversity is when you’re shown just what you’re capable of”. While my story may be unique to some, it is a story, a narrative that is connected to so many others. I wanted people to be able to not only see, hear and feel my story but I also wanted them to be able to see themselves somewhere in the narrative as well. Had it not been for Mackenzie, Terry, Star, Brenda, Dustin, Cheryl, Marty, Ramsey, Lorenzo and so many other countless names who shared small glimpses and chapters of their lives with me through their words and portraits I would not be the person I am today. We all want to leave our mark while we’re here in some way. We all want to be remembered, we all want there to be evidence that we were here.

-Shelby E. Wormley

You can listen to her one minute video on her original piece and read her full poem below.

You can also find the published copy of this piece in the first edition of the BLK Voices Magazine (https://www.speak2mysoul.com/blkvoices)

Shelby Wormley, one of the Storytellers behind WE&Company wanted to give people a closer look into the meaning behind her work and her personal story. In her original piece "Evidence" she explains the importance of how the stories of other helped shape her.

This year I named myself 

and it was 

worthy.

People have asked me my story and I've never known what to say or what chapter in my life to start with. Do I pick the chapters that I feel define me? Do I start from my beginning? Who is granted access to the depths of my story? 

I used to feel like my story was only rooted in trauma, and instability. I was too hurt to see the love and grace that occupied the same space back then. To learn my world had to get bigger. My camera made my world grandiose.

I can't tell my story without telling the stories of the ones who helped me write my chapters. There are too many ripples left by so many people in my life to simply call my story my own.

Still, it's a story only my eyes have seen and ears have heard.

Maybe my story is simply sharing the stories of others. This is my attempt to finally start writing my own. I'm giving myself permission to start defining the chapters that showed me who I am.

Know, that I am

determined.

When I started photographing people on the street almost a decade ago, I had no idea how their stories would help shape me and the lives of so many others. I felt a responsibility and urgency to share their stories.  A simple compliment or how are you was usually all it took.

Some people would just pour out whatever they were carrying.  Things they carried for years, decades, their entire lives. Moments that brought them great joy, happiness and pride. They would share stories of the days where they felt great shame and regret. Moments when everything was lost and found again. Sometimes there were no words at all.

Stories of sorrow and grief were common. I learned for myself that over the years, we would become greatly acquainted. I never wanted anyone's pity, but from life experiences I understand why it's given.

I started to understand why people were so heavy. 

I started to see why the need to document human connection was essential. There are so many different ways to live and who am I to say what's right or wrong but I take pride in simply showing people,

people. 

We're all carrying  weights and burdens but it doesn't mean we can't help to share the load.

I want my photographs to remind people of that.

We all want to be seen, heard, loved and remembered. 

We all want to feel like we matter, that this isn't all for nothing. 

This is not all for nothing. 

I understand that this is all a part of a bigger picture. A picture that I may not get to see in my lifetime but I'll still do my part to make sure we remember; that we're remembered.

Let this be evidence 

that we

were here.