In 2012, Micah Powell decided to do his senior college photography project in Washington Village/Pigtown (Baltimore, MD). He spent many days at Paul’s Place, a community center there that transforms lives in this poverty stricken neighborhood. He met and heard the stories of the guests there. This book shows 11 “Faces of Hope.” These individuals have lived through things most of us cannot imagine. His heartfelt pictures and stories tell about hope in the midst of despair.

This book is an amazing chronicle of life in an inner city neighborhood. It has been used by English teachers to inspire their students to write poems about the “faces.” It has so many possible uses to get conversations started about what we can do to help turn around the lives of those who have lived in poverty and with addiction for over 3 generations. It can inspire anyone who reads it.

This would be a good tool to use to prepare youth or adults to come and work in the inner city. It shows hope where others see only devastation and despair. It shows another side to the story.

Buying this book helps Paul’s Place continue their work and a young photographer know that his eye has captured our hearts.