Yidareus has been in foster care most of his life.
Twice, he was selected by a family to be adopted. Twice, the adoption fell through.
He's 13, old enough to understand his story, young enough to wish for more.
So when it was time for Yidareus to take the portrait that may lead to his adoption, he smiled broadly, confidently, wishfully.
``I really just want to have a place to go and stay,'' he says softly, moments after viewing his photograph as part of The Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery. ``I have been in foster care since I was four years old. I just want a home.''
His is the collective wish of of those pictured in the Miami Heart Gallery, an ambitious project to use the energy and magnetism of photography as a way to place Miami-Dade foster care children into adoptive homes.
On a rainy Friday afternoon, a downtown historical museum was transformed into an exhibit of possibilities, 43 inspired portraits, each capturing the beautiful spirit of children who need unconditional love.
``These are our most vulnerable children, the ones that traditionally are the hardest to place because they are older or part of a sibling group, or have a physical or developmental disability,'' says Emily Cardenas, senior communications manager for The Children's Trust, which spearheads the initiative. ``We want people to come in, connect with the pictures and decide to adopt.''
The exhibit, shot by about three dozen photographers committed to capturing expressions and moments, travels to public spaces -- museums, libraries, performing art centers -- throughout Miami-Dade for a year to reach as many potential parents as possible.
Last year, the show was installed at The Freedom Tower, Dadeland Mall and the Joseph Caleb Center. And the 2008 gallery is a permanent exhibit in the Miami International Airport.
The power of photography and an elegant setting works: Of the 123 children showcased since the Heart Gallery launched three years ago, 56 have been adopted or are in the process, which can take up to one year.
``When I took the pictures, I wanted to capture theirs eyes because they tell you so much about a child,'' said celebrity photographer Johnny Nuñez, whose portfolio includes portraits of Nelson Mandela and Jennifer Lopez. ``I wanted to capture the innocence.''
Nuñez, who grew up in New York, was a foster care child was adopted by a Puerto Rican family.
``I understand where these kids are. They are hopeful and scared. They want a family, they want someone to love them and give them a home,'' he said.
Roger and Deborah Riquelme did just that. The Kendall couple saw Aundre, then 10, in the first Heart Gallery. They were drawn to his portrait but were told he was already matched with another family. That adoption fell through and Aundre's picture was exhibited again in 2009.
``As soon as I saw him, I called the agency,'' said Deborah Riquelme, a nursing instructor at the University of Miami.
The adoption was finalized in March.
``He is a good kid,'' she said. ``This was a good decision.''
Other parents found their children on the gallery's website, which features the children's portraits and biographies.
``We had a couple that wanted to adopt for a while. They just hadn't found a match where they lived in Alabama so they started searching Heart Galleries online,'' Cardenas said. ``They saw a brother and sister online and knew they were the one.''
The couple saw the photographs of Tajah, 7, and her brother, Cameron, 8, hugging on the grounds of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, one of the 43 portraits featured in the 2009 gallery. By the fall, the children were traveling to Alabama to stay with the couple and by Christmas were on a plane headed to their new home.
Based on a national model, the Miami Heart Gallery is one of 125 in 48 states. The first gallery opened nine years ago in Sante Fe as a way for a state child welfare agency to generate interest in adoptions.
In 2007, the Heart Gallery of Broward County launched with the portraits of 73 children. The gallery showcased 98 children in 2009 -- 39 have been adopted or placed in a home as part of the adoption process. The 2010 gallery includes 88 children and is at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs throughout the month. In July, it travels to the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie.
This year's Miami exhibit features children ages 1 to 17 and eight sibling groups.
Jessand, 12, wants to be firefighter. Darrell, 17, plans on becoming a journalist. There's a future lawyer in Quisqueya, 14. Kassandra, 13, has a pet Chihuahua named Tinkerbell. Amethyst, 15, loves romance novels.
All are without permanent homes.
For information about adopting a foster child, call The Children's Trust Helpline at 211 or visit www.miamiheartgaller y.org.
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