home base poetry

2010 © brian adams
A few months ago, Ash was commissioned to teach poetry to a group of Anchorge students of the Home Base After School Program, ages 9-13, at the culmination of which she helped them assemble and produce a book of their poems. Home Base is a program focused on providing "at risk youth" in Anchorage, Alaska positive learning experiences and opportunities in the hours following school, and the woman who runs the program, Shirley Mae, is incredible: last year, she was able to bring ten of the students to Ghana, where they visited the Stilt Village of Nzulezo and bonded with the students there.

After Ash invited me to take portraits of the students for the book, it was obvious to me that the kids at Home Base were way ahead of most secondary schools or any other after school program I have been a part of.

Ash and I are both so proud of the kids and look forward to watching the progress of their futures and the people they will become.

Above are a few photos of their new poetry book, available at our favorite downtown coffee shop, Side Street Espresso!