Cheyenne Boone (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Taste of Life
Award of Excellence
Domestic Picture Story
Katherine Finch is a single mother and a recovering heroin addict. She became addicted to drugs at a young age and spent most of her adult life battling her addiction. She has been to multiple rehabilitation centers and has been sober for over a year. After becoming sober, Katherine has been trying to rebuild her relationship with her kids and establish her role as their mom. In November 2020, she gave birth to her son, Levi Corey Blevins, and is trying to maintain a relationship with his father who was recently released after being incarcerated for most of Levi's life. She said, "I love my kids and I do whatever I can to support them." The story focuses on the complexities of Finch's life and personal experiences of trying to break the cycle of addiction, for herself and her family.
Story: Taste of Life
Taste of Life
Finch begins to fall asleep while trying to get her four-month-old son, Levi, to stop crying on Apr. 17, 2020 at her home in North Rose, N.Y. Finch hasn't slept in over 24 hours after finding out her boyfriend and Levi's father, Aden Blevins, was in a car accident and is in the hospital in a coma. "I'm angry, what was he doing out," Finch said. "I don't know what we'd do without him, he's my taste of life."
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Bailey Formanek, 9, center, touches her little brother's hand while her grandmother, Cindy Shea, watches television on Nov. 30, 2019 in North Rose, N.Y. Bailey's mother, Finch, said "Bailey is like a little mother hen and she really helps me a lot with the baby."
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Finch changes Levi's diaper on Nov. 30, 2019 at her home in North Rose, N.Y. She has all of her children's names tattooed on her and Finch said, "caring for my kids is my main priority."
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Bailey asks Finch what is in the salad before she puts it on her plate for dinner on Feb. 8, 2020 at Finch's home in North Rose, N.Y. "Bailey is a picky eater, but she loves to eat," said Finch.
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Levi lays in his carrier while Finch searches for his car seat in the garage on Feb. 29, 2020 in North Rose, N.Y.
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Aden Blevins smiles at his son, Levi, through the car window on Apr. 3, 2020 at the Seneca County Jail in Romulus, N.Y. This is Blevins first interaction with his son after being released from jail after serving four months. "He's gotten so big," Blevins said. "We made a pretty baby."
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Blevins plays with Levi on the living room floor on Apr. 3, 2020 at Finch's home in North Rose, N.Y. "He's my first and only son, and he's perfect," Blevins said.
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Blevins hugs Finch after she became frustrated with him for wrestling with her on the couch on Apr. 3, 2020 at her home in North Rose, N.Y. While reminiscing on their three year relationship, Blevins said, "one day she was upset so I took her on a walk in nature and all of a sudden we saw a flying squirrel... she got so excited and made me smile and at that moment I realized she is my taste of life."