(Washington, DC) A new book by a group of talented Anacostia High School seniors, “From Anacostia with Love: An Environmental Journey,” brings together essays, poems and photographs reflecting the students’ experiences exploring nature and historic sites across the region.

The collection was created by 12 student authors who documented their observations and personal reflections after traveling to parks, forests, farms, rivers and other landscapes throughout the Washington area.

Students, educators and community partners gathered at Anacostia High School in March to celebrate the book’s release.  The event was coordinated by Xavier Brown, Deputy Director of DAWN, and Nature-Wise Founder and Lead Instructor Caroline Brewer. Students read from selected works in the book.

Download a copy of the book here.

A group poem from the book follows:

Sensing the Anacostia Courtyard

Out the door of our air-conditioned school
The sky is wide and pearly blue
I touch the rail, still cool and black
Taste the hot wind as it swarms my face
See drops of water hugging blades of grass
Green bushes and trees dominate the center and sides of the courtyard
Competing for space
I notice red brick walls stretching high
Framing leaves that kiss the sky
I’m feeling the heat as if there were a thousand suns
And tiny rocks under my feet

– Excerpt of group poem by Anacostia High School students

“From Anacostia with Love” is the product of partnerships between the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and its Developing America’s Workforce Nucleus (DAWN) Initiative, DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Nature-Wise Founder Caroline Brewer, with additional funding support from Pepco.

Download a copy of the book here.