Back to School

Since their school year ends in mid July, it hardly seems like the kids at Newark’s Northstar Charter School ever had a summer vacation. But I’ll bet that many of them can’t wait to get back. This amazing school boasts 100% enrollment at 4 year colleges for all it’s graduates. Let me say that again: 100% enrollment. Outstanding. And outstanding for me to have the privilege of watching them do it.

Cory Booker (recently elected Mayor of Newark) gave a talk in Montclair last Fall. He spoke, among many things, of his plans for changing the structure of Newark’s school system, of establishing a school culture “of teamwork and loyalty”, and his belief that there is “no link between poverty and the ability to learn.” About a week later, I ran into my friend journalist Yuki Ishikawa, who had written an article earlier in the year on charter schools in the U.S for a Japanese publication. Northstar was one of the schools he covered. Yuki invited me on a morning visit and a tour by its co director Paul Bambrick Santoyo. That one visit inspired a photographic project that I expect will go on and blossom in many directions for years to come. And, as it turns out, Booker is on the Board of Trustees.

For me, the photograph I’ve included here kind of says it all. Where is this young man going? Who can say? But I have a feeling he’s quite optimistic about the possibilities ahead of him.

“Feel the desire, see the goal”. Cory Booker said that.

The Northstar Charter School, changing the world 300 students at a time. I said that!