Ninth graders at Capital High School in Santa Fe, New Mexico had the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking poetry program sponsored by Reel Fathers, an organization that engages with the community to build stronger relationships through a dynamic use of film, story and creative expression.

Poet mentors worked with students to write and perform poems that explore the lightness, darkness, absence, and presence of fathers and father figures.

We talk to Reel Fathers Founder Allan Shedlin and poetry program mentor Hakim Bellamy about the impact of the program on the students and the community. We also hear six of the students perform their poetry and an original poem from Hakim.