Meet Christian Farland, a 36 year-old civil engineer from New Bedford.

Living in the city his entire life, he felt a commitment to the community and decided to continue to live and raise his family here and start his career. After moving out of his home during his junior year in high school and having a child at 19, just a few years later, he was still able to graduate from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. He stated that math always come easy to him and pursued a career in it due to the impact of Mrs. Baptiste and Mrs. Bourgeois, two math teachers he had growing up.

Currently, he is the owner of two local businesses: Thompson Farland, which is a civil engineering and land surveying company and Farland Corp, which handles site construction. He started Thompson Farland in 2008 during the midst of the economic turmoil this country was facing and received criticism that it would take off. Years later, and after 60-70 hour work weeks at times, the company has proved itself successful.

Christian’s love for the rich history and culture has given him the drive to see improvement in this city, like a better school system and the flourishing of downtown New Bedford. In his venture to do this, he has been involved with the South Coast Business Alliance for the past 7 years and has been the President for the past 3 years. He also sits on the UMass Faculty Advisor Board and South Coast Health Presidents Council.

“You can do or be anything you want, the opportunities are out there. You just need to make sure you are ready when the opportunity comes your way. It doesn’t happen over night but by setting short-term goals and taking it one day at a time you will get there.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Courtney Saunders, a 29-year old hair dresser and business owner from New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Being part of a family that has been in this city for generations, she is passionate about seeing growth and success in our lovely city. As co-owner of the Beehive hair salon she hopes to help cultivate the trendy and eclectic nuance that is growing in that area. She anticipates a positive economic growth approaching our city and is happy to help be a part of that.

Coming from a salon that has helped shaped the face of Padanaram village, she aspires to bring that same life to the bustling cobblestones of Centre street. Courtney loves the charm of New Bedford and that is something that she truly appreciates.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Gildas Robert, a young creative from New Bedford.

Growing up in the city he has always been inspired by the remnants of the architecture from New Bedford past. He enjoys to be by the ocean and loves the sailing and fishing culture.

After a small stay at UMass Dartmouth studying English, he took a hiatus to truly find out what he desires to do the most. Feeling inclined to his passion for all things art, he is planning on entering into the CVPA program this upcoming fall.

“This city is so fascinating and I can’t just stay at home, so I am always on the go. Once you find the things you love never let it go, stay positive, and don’t ever give up.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Meagan “Meaggsy” Borges, a 24-year-old marine fabricator and artist.

After 8 long years of working at multiple McDonald restaurants in the area she left to work for Steele and Rowe, where she discovered her love for fashion design while crafting boat covers. Using the skills developed while working there, she creates backpacks, hats, and many other commissioned works.

Not only is she a full time fabricator, but she also recently graduated UMass Boston with a degree in Finance, which she hopes to use, along with her artistic abilities, to open a business in downtown New Bedford.

She has also been drawing since she first picked up a pencil. Inspired by the cartoons she watched as a child, her art heavily revolves around detailed line work and many familiar faces from 90s television.

She is inspired by the local community and how everyone has always been supportive of anything she has tried to do, which is why she loves this city. She just recently showed at the Pour Farm Tavern which garnered her a lot of local attention.

“Find out what makes you you and do it. Keep growing and learning to make whoever you find yourself to be better than you were the day before.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Charlie Perry, an officer in the New Bedford Police department.

After spending a year in the cadet program in 1987, he left for the academy and never looked back. In his almost 30 years of service, he has not only patrolled our streets to keep them safe, but has worked as a detective and resource officer at Keith Junior High School.

His tremendous love for New Bedford has been the reason he has worked as a police officer all of these years. When he isn’t busy helping the citizens of our city, he spends his time working on his second passion, writing. Not only has he written tons of poetry, he has published his own book, a biography of Andre McCoy. The proceeds from the book go to fund the New Bedford Boy’s and Girls club.

“I really owe everything I have learned about being a police officer to Captain Guy Oliveira, who was a true inspiration and mentor. I just want to be able to help the community and impact our city and this badge allows me to do that.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Jordan Pina, New Bedford High School Educational Advisor by day and Female Varsity Basketball Head Coach by night.

After graduating New Bedford High School in 2008, he left New Bedford to attend Wheelock College in Boston. Due to the impact that many role models, such as Coach DeBritto, had in his life, he returned to New Bedford after attaining his Bachelor’s Degree in order to continue on the legacy set before him.

“Family raised me, New Bedford made me,” is what he stated when asked what he felt could sum up a short synopsis of what New Bedford means to him. Being inspired by the history of our city and the bright future ahead of it, despite all of the negativity he hopes to, “let the light expose itself to push the darkness aside.”

As an Educational Advisor he has had the opportunity to help kids, who wouldn’t normally have applied for college, not only pursue different universities but also move on to those institutes after graduating. He is excited to not only to assist students getting into college and chasing championship titles, but to interact with each one he encounters and really make a difference in their lives.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Erik Andrade, a poet and activist who calls our beautiful city home.

After moving here 20 years ago during his time at UMass Dartmouth, he fell in love with the rich history of social justice and the Cape Verdean community that New Bedford thrives from. Since then, he has become involved in helping the youth overcome their adversity through leadership development and after school tutoring.

“Outside of lighting the world with candles, we have enlightened the world with tolerance, social justice, equality, and equity. From the likes of from the likes of Frederick Douglass, Paul Cuffee, Sweet Daddy Grace, and Jibreel Khazan, we have been home to visionaries who have not only created change, but also inspired social-change movements throughout the world.”

He remembers graduating college and living on the floor of his friend’s apartment thinking, “How will I ever get out of this?” Almost two decades later he knows that he only got through it by the strength of God and it was that difficult time that pushed him to do all that he has for the community.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Dereck Boyd, a 22 year-old student at Bristol Community College.

Although you may recognize him as your friendly bagger at Market Basket, there is more to Dereck than meets the eyes.

He is also an aspiring dancer, singer, and actor who has a huge passion for fashion. He spends his spare time volunteering at the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ to put on youth events. He loves that there is so much musical talent in New Bedford and the history of Downtown and Seaport.

He remembers graduating college and living on the floor of his friend’s apartment thinking, “How will I ever get out of this?” Almost two decades later he knows that he only got through it by the strength of God and it was that difficult time that pushed him to do all that he has for the community.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Marcus Cusick, a recent graduate from the Fine Arts program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Here he is pictured preparing for the Seaport Artwalk, where he had several sculptures installed and a large mural of a lobster claw. When asked what it was about New Bedford that inspired him and his art his reply was the culture. “I mean, look at downtown, there’s a Mexican place down the street from a Portuguese place, down the street from a Thai place, next to a Dominican place.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Meet Nick Dompierre, professional skateboarder turned fitness expert. Growing up in New Bedford he was drawn to the skate culture that exploded from Solstice Skateboarding and had his humble beginnings at Livesey Skatepark.

Later gathering several endorsement sponsors and turning professional he was able to travel the world and live out his dreams. After an injury in 2011, he was left with a broken neck and took time off from skateboarding to focus on his health. Strengthening the muscles around his neck using fitness and weight training, he found a new passion. Recently he has become part of the Live Fit team of fitness athletes where he is able to skateboard and train, while inspiring thousands of people.

“Be Positive. Be Focused. Be Consistent. I use these 3 everyday for success and reaching my goals.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton