East Oakland Boxing Association

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION I AM TURKI

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION I AM TURKI

I AM TURKI

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

PROJECT STATEMENT I want to shatter the perception that boxing is a violent sport for young men.

There is a positive side to it. Boxing is a home for all genders, races, and ages.

This documentary project will focus on the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), a non-profit organization that aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for the youth of Oakland. This is where young people get to learn new skills and build their self-esteem in preparation for their future.

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I AM TURKI

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION The boxing gym at East Oakland Boxing Association is one of the oldest boxing gyms in the East Bay. The EOBA functions as a community center that provides services to young people. Not only boxing but also gardening, art, academic tutoring, and even baking. As boxing is my passion, this project will focus solely on their gym.

After my undergraduate studies, I started boxing to stay fit, healthy, and release all negative energy. It was not long before I began to admire the elegant movement and rhythm involved with practicing the sport. One of my trainers, Ken Stone, described boxing as “A natural fluidity, and a way to express yourself truthfully.”

During a local fight at the University of California, San Francisco, I got to meet Dalia “La Pantera” Gomez. Not only a professional boxer, but also a head coach at EOBA at the time as well. She gave me a warm invitation to visit her at the gym. I did not know I was about to enter such a beautiful space.

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

For her it was just an average day, but I saw a unique story here. This professional female fighter was teaching young people lessons beyond strength and movement. She was mentoring discipline, respect, and responsibility.

No age is discriminated against here, and it is free from the typical macho attitude. I was already aware of the elegance in performing the sport, but the EOBA also brings an elegance to its teaching. I knew immediately that I had to get involved.

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I AM TURKI

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

THE BOXING GYM AT EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE OLDEST BOXING GYMS IN THE EAST BAY.

THE HEROES OF THE PAST WELCOME ALL WHO ENTER

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

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I AM TURKI

THE FAMILY ROOM

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

LEARNING TO EXPRESS YOURSELF TRUTHFULLY

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I AM TURKI

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

THIS PROFESSIONAL FEMALE FIGHTER WAS TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE LESSONS BEYOND STRENGTH AND MOVEMENT.

SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO

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I AM TURKI

COMMUNITY

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

LEARNING RHYTHM

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I AM TURKI

NO VIOLENCE HERE

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

NO OUTSIDE WORRIES. NO DISTRACTIONS. FOCUS

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I AM TURKI

LEARNING HOW TO MOVE FLUIDLY

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

POSITIVE ENERGY

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I AM TURKI

RESPONSIBILITY

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

BOXING IS MORE THAN FISTS

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I AM TURKI

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

NO AGE IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST HERE, AND IT’S FREE FROM THE TYPICAL MACHO ATTITUDE.

A PLACE TO BE A BIG BROTHER

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I AM TURKI

A PLACE TO MAKE FRIENDS

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

RELEASING NEGATIVE ENERGY

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I AM TURKI

FLOWING LIKE WATER

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

LEARNING THE DANCE

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I AM TURKI

WATCHING HIS BIG SISTER

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I AM TURKI

PREPARING HIS MIND

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I AM TURKI

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE ELEGANCE IN PERFORMING THE SPORT, BUT THE EOBA ALSO BRINGS AN ELEGANCE TO ITS TEACHING.

HOPE

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

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I AM TURKI

EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Growing up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I spent weekends in the winter season camping in the desert. I would listen to the stories and poems told by friends and family. Their words formed images in my mind that helped me understand the world. I knew that someday, I would become a storyteller too.

I first started using a camera when completing my undergraduate studies in International Business at Franklin University Switzerland. I borrowed one from a friend and used it for an elective class taught by an American photojournalist. Professor Donald Winslow went beyond the basics of the camera and delved into the emotional and ethical issues surrounding the medium.

Despite my passion for photography, my practical mind led me to pursue my graduate studies at the Academy of Art University, in Fashion Merchandising.

I love apparel and could see myself working in the industry as an entrepreneur.

Unfortunately, the major was more business-oriented than creative.

Thankfully I took a photo class as an elective. I was eager to explore the diversity of projects involved in this class, especially when the subjects were people. My passion was reignited. I knew then, photography is what I want to do in life. I want to tell stories with pictures.

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION

DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my mother and father, my two brothers and sister, and to my friends and family. It is also dedicated to the instructors who led my path to become the photographer I am today. These are Jeff Weston, Jim Sienkiewicz, Michael Hirst, Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov, Eric Butler, Andrei Riskin, Adrienne Pao, Connie Begg, Michael Sims, David Wasserman, and Roger Muller.

The members of the EOBA were very helpful and kind to me, especially Dalia “La Pantera” Gomez. Without Dalia’s warm invitation and ongoing help, this project would not have been possible. Thank you all so very much.

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I AM TURKI

COLOPHON TURKI ALANGARI PHOTOGRAPHER

iamturki.com info@iamturki.com Nick Drexler Copywriter Scarlett Liu Graphic Designer scarlettliu.com Plotnet Vadim Zaychick (Principal) (415) 762-0200 ext 101 1228 Folsom Street, Suite 100 San Francisco CA 94103 Key Printing and Binding 1934 Park Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606 (510) 595-3311

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I AM TURKI

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EAST OAKLAND BOXING ASSOCIATION