[ Environmental Portrait 3] Late evening at Connections

B: Zamir Freeman

Where I met him: I met Tae this night while I was taking out the trash. It was pretty late, and he happened to be outside near the apartments. We got to talking, and I learned a little about who he is and what he does. Name: Tae Mattox What he does: Tae works part-time at the local Publix, and when he’s not there, he helps out at the Leading Office at The Connections. What he told me: “I like to stay busy. Between Publix and helping at the office, I don’t have a lot of free time, but I honestly prefer it that way. I’ve never liked just sitting around. After the pandemic, I realized that staying active helps me stay in a good headspace. Out of everything I do, I like working at The Connections the most — it feels like I’m actually doing something that matters.” The photo: I took his photo right there outside, where we met. The streetlight gave the scene a calm vibe — nothing flashy, just real. Tae stood relaxed, hands by his side, looking straight at the camera with the kind of energy that says, “I’ve got things to do, but I’ve got time for this.” He didn’t try too hard, and he didn’t have to.