Man harnesses Internet to impact troubled youth

Michael Lopez says his passion is in portraits. Now he's hoping his talents behind the lens can make a difference on some of Bakersfield's meanest streets. I know what it is like to struggle, says Lopez. He says he grew up in one of the toughest neighbors in Bakersfield, but survived. I was fortunate enough that I had people in my life that helped me stay clear of the trouble, Lopez said. Now he's turned to the internet with the goal of saving other young people from going down the wrong path. He asked his friends on the popular networking site Facebook to quite literally put money where their faces are. I said wouldn't be cool if I took photos of everyone and then gave them the chance to but their photos, Said Lopez. He calls his endeavor Project Bookface. He plans to photograph hundreds of his friends and family's faces for a donation. I was looking for a way to give back to the community some other way then just giving money, Lo0pez says. All the money Lopez generates from his gallery will benefit the Wendale Davis Foundation, which aims to curb gang violence. He is an entrepreneur with a heart for change, said Wesley Davis, who founded the Wendale Davis Foundation in his murdered son's name. It's a blessing for us to be a to network with him. His son Wendale was killed in 2006, a victim of gang violence. Now Davis hopes Project Bookface will target the right audience. I think it will raise awareness and give some of these families and individuals, who are struggling with gang violence, an opportunity to say to the world, 'we are struggling this is what we are going through,' Davis said. If you are interested in being a part of Project Bookface, Lopez will be taking pictures Friday night at the Bistro restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel on California Avenue from 6 to 10 pm. You can also follow the projects progress and other events by logging on to Facebook.com, and searching Project Bookface.

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