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 while traveling to parks, forests, rivers and other landscapes throughout the Washington area.
Students, educators and community partners gathered at Anacostia High School in March to celebrate the accomplishment and hear from students presenting their writing publicly for the first time.
“From Anacostia with Love” is the product of partnerships with 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 support from Pepco. Through immersive experiences in local and regional parks, forests and waterways, students documented their observations and connections to nature.
“This project is an incredible example of how education can empower young people to become stewards of their communities and voices for change,” said UDC President Maurice D. Edington. “We are proud to partner with DC Public Schools in providing impactful opportunities like these, which can inspire and tap into students’ creativity to explore their communities and career pathways.”
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 students
Students reported developing deeper connections to the natural world through their participation in the UDC–Nature-Wise internship, which also introduced them to Black environmentalists, past and present, and their many contributions to conservation and stewardship. Over the course of the summer 2025 program, students gained more confidence in their writing and speaking skills and found their voices as storytellers.
“DC’s diverse ecosystem provides our scholars with unique opportunities to observe the natural wonders in our city,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. “Our partnership with the University of the District of Columbia helps Anacostia High School students develop their writing and communication skills so they can articulate their connection to the environment in the nation’s capital. This work has been a beautiful outlet and powerful form of advocacy for our young people.”
The students traveled to forests, farms, rivers, streams, gardens, parks and libraries, documenting their experiences through poetry and prose. Along the way, they visited sites connected to the Underground Railroad as well as the last Maryland homestead of Harriet Tubman's parents, now farmed by Black women elders known as “The Aunties.” Together, the students created 55 poems, essays and reports that make up “From Anacostia with Love.”
“In my work with Anacostia students, I’ve seen firsthand how connecting with nature can be a transformative experience,” said UDC Anacostia Ambassador and Justice40 Summer Internship Coordinator Xavier Brown. “Whether they’re writing about the river, tending plants in the greenhouse or reflecting on their place in the natural world, they’re building confidence and discovering new possibilities for their futures.”
Caroline Brewer, editor of “From Anacostia with Love” and founder of Nature-Wise, praised the students’ growth as both creative writers and community-minded thinkers.
“Writing for a book is hard work. Yet there were so many moments of surprise and delight in nature that pushed them to keep weaving their stories and to keep believing in what they were there to do,” she said. “That brought forth insight about the environment that was moving and meaningful.”