Barbara McClane, Community Fellow
Barbara McClane is a passionate Connecticut-based photographer who connects, captures, and creates meaningful memories of families, friends, pets, and loved ones. She believes that the perfect photography captures the energy that is felt through the camera viewfinder and connects her to the subject. McClane has worked as a Mental Health Assistant with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for over sixteen years. In that capacity, she has dedicated herself to caring for, training, and assisting folks with daily life skills. A mostly self-taught photographer, McClane has channeled her commitment to social justice and humanity into creating art that showcases the complexities and beauty of the human experience. Her recent projects have focused on highlighting members of her local LGBTQ+ community, and people of color. Her more recent photography projects include “LGBTQ Pride Stories of 2021” (2021), “History Makers Now” (2021), “Dope Dads” (2021), “I am Woman” (2019, 2021), and “HIS Project: History Impactful Story” (2019, 2022). McClane is working on a memoir, “Blessed, Not Bitter.” The book details her personal journey from surviving addiction, prison, and physical and sexual abuse to reconnecting with her biological family and inspiring others to find the joy and hope in life. McClane is the recipient of several awards, including the “2021 100 Women of Color” and the “2021 Working Women in Networking Business” awards. McClane resides in Cromwell, Connecticut with her wife and their two cats.“My artistic interest is in capturing each unique personality. I have been fortunate enough to put that artistry to work on behalf of showcasing members of our local BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Using my talent to serve others; building collective power through visibility; and volunteering in ways that bring joy and wellness to the communities I belong to is both important to me and crucial to my own growth and development."