Category: Voices

  • Voices: Personal Stories of Homelessness in City Heights

    By Brent Jensen Brent Jensen is a high school student and member of The AjA Project’s Youth Advisory Council. People void of a support system and unable to attain financial and emotional stability must sometimes reconcile with the reality of homelessness. The unconventional lifestyles of those who are homeless – often exhibited along neighborhood streets…

  • Students to Display Themes of Sustainability, Education on Monroe Clark Art Wall

    Students at Monroe Clark Middle School are completing plans and raising money to paint a mural on their campus. | Photo Credit: Juan Carlos, The AjA Project By Julia Richardson The AjA Project’s PhotoCity program at Monroe Clark Middle School is in its third semester of programming. Over the past few semesters, PhotoCity students have…

  • The People’s Budget: An Interview With Christie Hill

    Christie Hill | Photo via Twitter By Andrew Keatts Each year, San Diego’s adopted budget brings calls from groups of underfunded and overfunded programs, evidence of priorities out of whack at City Hall. One group in town is looking to address the issue by putting some of those decisions directly in residents’ hands. For two…

  • On School Curriculum: ‘You’re Asking Students to Hate Who They Are’

    By Mario Koran Alberto Ochoa remembers how, as a freshman at a Los Angeles public high school, the vice principal told his class that half of the students wouldn’t graduate. Turns out, Ochoa said, “that’s exactly what happened.” Many of his classmates dropped out, some “survived public education” and made it out with a diploma,…

  • Monroe Clark Students Learn Photography Techniques

    By Julia Richardson Monroe Clark Middle School students have been exploring photo techniques such as repetition, rule of thirds, silhouettes and documentary photography through The AjA Project’s PhotoCity class. Students voted on their favorite photos to share with their peers and the local community. “Warrior Pose” by Angelita, age 11. “This picture shows my classmate,…