The Grace Project

#breastcancer #mastectomy #graceproject #gracegoddess #bodyimage #chariseisis THE BEAUTY OF A TREE - Gabymac60 Can there be anything more lovely Than the beauty of a tree?... Her leaves shimmering in the wind, Dancing so gracefully. The strength of her mighty roots That grows deep into the earth. She's weathered every stormy gale For all that she is worth. Standing tall, resilient With her branches lifted high, She refused to bow, to break or bend But reaches upward to the sky. The beauty of the strength within As she held her head up high. Her strong resilient spirit Grew wings and learned to fly.

My friend Jennie Fili dshot this photo of me hanging a Grace Project exhibition in Charleston South Carolina a few years ago... Nobody has ever said I don't have fun doing what I do!!! . I'm off this morning to shoot a new Grace Goddess in front of her favorite caves... So happy to be back and shooting again... Can't wait for the next exhibition!

So you all saw that I was out and about photographing again for the first time this year... Here is the very powerful result. I'm looking forward to a photoshoot with another Goddess here in upstate New York this coming weekend. Now that we have begun to be vaxxed and things are opening up, I have more opportunity for breast cancer portraits. For now I am photographing in or near Kingston NY (2 hours north of NYC). Your only requirement is that you sign a model release and ...be willing to share your mastectomy scars, your courage and vulnerability with the world. There is no fee to participate. In the next few months I will plan to travel outside of New York to allow people in other regions to participate. Please consider donating to the project in any amount to help this important work to grow. My goal is to photograph 800 subjects (so far at around 430) to represent the approximate number of new breast cancer diagnosis in the United States every day. See more

This courageous beauty and I braved the crisp cold windy early New York State spring day yesterday to create her Grace Goddess portrait. We were grateful for the warming sunshine that gave slight relief from the biting wind and the gorgeous giant double Lotus tree for creating our powerful backdrop.It felt so good to get back to photographing after relative months of isolation. Anyone who has had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer that is ever near Kingston NY is welcome to inbox me at any time to set up a Grace Project shoot in this area now that the weather is warming up, vaccines are on the rise and Covid numbers are coming down. #breastcancer #mastectomy #graceproject #gracegoddess #aestheticflatclosure #courage #beauty #grace #chariseisis

"let's be wildflowers, let our souls be scattered by the wind. let us grow, wild and free, tall and brave, in the places that we dream,... in the places where our longings are filled. let us grow between the cracks of brokenness, and we will make everything beautiful." -g.c. See more

Heartbroken to find out that my friend Spirit has died of metastatic breast cancer... If you haven't watched this video... please do... such beauty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUYpPYLxWmM

Hey everyone... If you shop on Amazon, please consider shopping via Amazon Smile and adding the Grace project (Grace Goddess inc) as your chosen charity. (there are no additional charges... but a tiny percentage of your sale will be donated to the Grace Project So far I have about 6 people signed on... and have made all of 62 cents in the few months that we have been signed up for it... but at the end of the day it all adds up.

Mirrors When I look in a mirror I see a deformity that is hard to explain A body devastated by disease... I feel odd and different I am often afraid When I look to the sky I see infinite possibilities In the stars, moon and what lies beyond I gain strength, courage and grace And I am no longer afraid When I look out at the ocean I feel small I gain amazement and tenacity with each wave That crashes to the shore And I am no longer afraid When I ground myself on this earth I see my friends and my family While they believe I have strength and courage It is them they give me these gifts And I am no longer afraid I am surrounded by the sky The earth and the ocean I am surrounded by my friends and family Near and far Mirrors everywhere And I refuse to be afraid ~ Eileen Fischer, One of Many Grace Goddesses Photographed by Charise Isis, founder of The Grace Project Washington DC October 13, 2015

"bless the thing that broke you down and cracked you open because the world... needs you open." - Rebecca Campbell #breastcancerawareness #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #mastectomy #beauty #graceproject #gracegoddess #chariseisis #bodyimage #realbeauty #brokenisbeautiful #thisisnotpink Please consider donating to www.the-grace-project.org and help us to double our donations through the month of October!!! See more

http://the-grace-project.org//michelles-story-u-s-militar/

Breast Cancer "Awareness" is all around us in the month of October. But here is something most people are not aware of. Women who serve in the U.S. military have a 20-40% increased chance of a breast cancer diagnosis. Meet Michelle, a U.S. Army Veteran... this is her story.

http://the-grace-project.org//double-your-donation-during/

Hey Friends, Charise, Grace Project photographer, Founder and Director here... The other day I posted THIS video directly from my Vimeo account. I added a fundraiser to the post but was alerted by a friend that it did not include the fundraiser when she tried to share the post. So... I thought I would try to upload the video directly to Facebook. Keep in mind that this video shows ONLY women with mastectomy surgery as a result of breast cancer. I have in NO WAY violated ...FB's terms of service by posting this video... However, I immediately received notification from FB that my post had violated community standards. Facebooks rules state : That you cannot show "uncovered female nipples except in the context of breastfeeding, birth giving and after-birth moments, health related situations (for example, post-mastectomy, breast cancer awareness or gender confirmation surgery) or an act of protest. This is October... BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. I was locked out of my FB account... I requested a review and was notified THAT IT STILL VIOLATED FB TERMS OF SERVICE. Breast cancer awareness month... and this is the slap in the face that I receive from FB. So I have had a little set back in my fundraising. Please consider donating to this project (tax deductible under 501 (c) 3 laws) so that I can reach the goal of photographing 800 portraits of those affected by breast cancer. (So far I am at 430)... A generous donor has offered to DOUBLE any donations we receive from individuals during the month of October up to the amount of $10,000. I will also use some of the funds from this to begin working on the first official Grace Project book. Please consider starting a fundraiser for this page CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE HOW https://www.facebook.com/fund/graceproject/ Thank you for your support... <3 See more

Please consider supporting The Grace Project with a contribution this October. A generous donor has offered to double any donations for the next month up to the amount of $10,000. Dear friends... will you help grow this project with a donation? Donations are tax deductible. Recently, I received this message from one of the Grace Goddesses... She is the first Goddess you see in this video: "Charise! Oh, Charise! I received my portrait, and I wept my eyes out. I truly did. I... know you have a small idea of how much these portraits can change a woman's life, but in truth, you really have almost no idea. To see myself this way is indescribable. You made me look like sun and sky. I can truly see my purest essence in this one photograph! I can't believe it. What a beautiful gift. Thank you so much love you forever thank you for all of us." https://vimeo.com/382316201 See more

Happy International FLAT day!!! Congratulations to all of the wonderful Goddesses who have raised and those who continue to raise their voices to help make the medical community aware that flat closure is a valid and beautiful reconstruction option. That all women going through the grueling machinations of breast cancer treatment should be given ALL of their reconstruction options along with the pro's and cons of each choice. So today October 7th I celebrate all of my flat friends. <3

I'm thrilled to announce that once again Salon 804 (Harlem NYC) are hosting their breast cancer beauty brunch (social distancing style 2020 - Limited tickets). Salon 804 owner Rochelle Mosely, her staff, clients, family & friends gather together to create this fabulous event, to educate, have fun, eat drink and raise $ for breast cancer. To date, they have been one of the Grace projects most consistent supporters and have truly helped this project grow. In addition, proceeds also go towards helping community members affected by breast cancer and this year they will also be contributing to "His Breast Cancer Too". It is a gorgeous event. There are fun prizes... and goody bags too... I hope some of you can join us <3 Call (212)690-1212 or email [email protected] to reserve your tickets.

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Emerson #breastcancer #mastectomy #beauty #flatclosure #Graceproject #GraceGoddess #ChariseIsis

I hear again and again from my breast cancer friends about how much it hurts to hear platitudes while going through the process of cancer treatment. Although well meaning, people speak these platitudes because they are at a loss for what to say. Truth is, you don't have to say anything... just LISTEN to your friend. Hold their hand. Offer to pick up groceries, do some laundry... watch their kids for an hour... drive them to treatment... It's the little things that count. But... mostly just be there. And don't be afraid to ask questions. <3

The gift that covid quarantine has given me is that I am slowly catching up on things that have been hanging over my head forever. One of those things is that I have been able to send out signed fine art portraits to the women that have participated in the project. It is a slow process but it feels like sacred work. Here is one of the many lovely messages I have received from one of the women who has received her photo: Charise! Oh, Charise! I received my portrait, and I ...wept my eyes out. I truly did. I know you have a small idea of how much these portraits can change a woman's life, but in truth, you really have almost no idea. To see myself this way is indescribable. You made me look like sun and sky. I can truly see my purest essence in this one photograph! I can't believe it. What a beautiful gift. Thank you so much love you forever thank you for all of us... See more

Please vote for my friend (and grace goddess) for an award for black led non profits. Her non profit is called Angel in disguise This award will give her the opportunity to win $5000. Throughout Covid, Jersi has continued to provide transportation and support for cancer patients to and from their treatments, infusions and surgeries. She herself has stage iv metastatic breast cancer but she hasn’t let that stop her important work... sometimes driving hours and hours a day to assist those that don’t have the means. $5000 will be a lot of gas money and car maintenance which will help enormously. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSAug20

Chiara D'Agostino has died. She is at peace now. #metastaticbreastcancer #stageivneedsmore