Photography Book will be Published in November
Thanks to the support of more than 100 donors, Focus: HOPE will publish a coffee table book featuring about 120 photographs taken by area high school students over the last 15 years. The book will draw attention to the Focus on the Mission program which brings together a diverse group of high school students each year, from the city and the suburbs, to learn about different cultures, races and religions. The aim is to overcome racism and create young leaders who appreciate the beauty of diversity.
The organization exceeded its fund raising goal on Kickstarter and will either print more books or change the book's format.
“This is such a great project. The photographs provide interesting insight into our young people’s perspectives on racial and economic issues over the past several years,” said Focus: HOPE CEO William F. Jones, Jr.
The annual Focus on the Mission program brings together high school students from across metropolitan Detroit to discuss diversity and youth leadership. It grew out of the agency’s mission to “pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice.” Professional photographers teach the teens how to express themselves through photography. The photos reflect the teens’ views on cultural diversity in the Detroit area.
“The students go on field trips to take photos that have cultural and historical meaning to them. We display the teens’ selected photos, along with their written statements about what the photos mean to them, in the Focus: HOPE Gallery on our Oakman campus. The exhibit then travels to libraries, schools and galleries throughout southeast Michigan,” explains Annette Vanover, who oversees the program as manager of Focus: HOPE’s Community Arts Department. “Publishing a photo retrospective of these talented teens’ work has been a longtime dream of ours.”
A team of professional photographers selected the photographs from about 900 that have been exhibited over the years. A book sgning and reception will be held in November at the Detroit Historical Museum. Focus: HOPE also will be featured in a new historical exhibition at the museum.
Examples photos taken in by the 2011 class of students are here.