Hopes & Dreams from Cuba

Hilary earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Art History at Hardwick College in 1991. She is an avid traveler with a passion for Latin American culture. In '93she moved to Costa Rica to work as a volunteer English teacher with WorldTeach, and later directed an environmental education program at the Rain Forest Aerial Tram. Over the course of seven years, she immersed herself in the culture of Costa Rica as an educator and honed her photography skills. She began her photography career in news and travel for the Tico Times of Costa Rica. At 30, she moved to NYC to study at the International Center of Photography. As a two-time recipient of the ICP/Johnson & Johnson Fellowship, Hilary completed assignments for J & J's corporate social responsibility at the U.S.-Mexico border, then India and Vietnam. This led to subsequent assignments for international NGOs in the U.S., Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and tsunami-affected regions. Some of her clients include: Covenant House, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, MAP International, UN Women, UNHCR and The Clinton Foundation. Her photographs are in a permanent exhibit at Covenant House Headquarters in New York City as a result of a project documenting the plight and rehabilitation of street children in México & Central America. Frequent collaborations with NGOs have allowed Hilary to strengthen her passion as a socially concerned photographer while sensitively being a voice for the marginalized. She has exhibited in Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala and the U.S. In 2001, Hilary assisted master photographer courses for the Maine Photo Workshops' Havana program. Compelled to share photography with local youth, she developed a photo library and directed the Havana Youth Photo course in 2003. She has also taught in after-school programs in New York City and teaches ESL to new immigrants. Hilary's international work and experiences in Cuba provided the opportunity to lead people-to-people cultural and photography trips for various travel groups on the island during the last six years.