by Andrea Hsu

My original thought was to go to Anacostia Park Pavilion to photograph rollerskaters. But because no one was rollerskating, I found myself talking to Nura Green of the Aban Institute. She's running a small summer program for teenagers and the day's lesson was on nutrition and how to prevent Type II Diabetes. The classroom is in an unlikely place - tucked behind a brown door within one wall of the skating pavilion. Inside, Green was teaching her students how to read nutrition labels.

  • Nura Green has just two students for her lesson today on how to read nutrition labels. 15-year old Shanice Galloway and 16-year old Khalil Perkins signed up for this summer program on health awareness "to learn something new."
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    Nura Green has just two students for her lesson today on how to read nutrition labels. 15-year old Shanice Galloway and 16-year old Khalil Perkins signed up for this summer program on health awareness "to learn something new."
  • Nura Green says Type II Diabetes afflicts more than 30 percent of African-Americans. She hopes the students will take what they learn about healthy eating back to their families.
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    Nura Green says Type II Diabetes afflicts more than 30 percent of African-Americans. She hopes the students will take what they learn about healthy eating back to their families.
  • Outside the "classroom" at the Anacostia Park Pavilion in Washington DC, 15-year old Shanice Galloway greets instructor Nura Green, who's running a health awareness program for youth this summer.
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    Outside the "classroom" at the Anacostia Park Pavilion in Washington DC, 15-year old Shanice Galloway greets instructor Nura Green, who's running a health awareness program for youth this summer.
  • The class heads to Safeway to check out nutritional labels on their favorite foods. Nura Green also tells the students to pay attention to what food products are placed where, and how they're presented.
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    The class heads to Safeway to check out nutritional labels on their favorite foods. Nura Green also tells the students to pay attention to what food products are placed where, and how they're presented.
  • Shanice Galloway works on a floorplan of Safeway, while Nura Green sends Khalil Perkins off to see what's at the checkout lines.
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    Shanice Galloway works on a floorplan of Safeway, while Nura Green sends Khalil Perkins off to see what's at the checkout lines.
  • Shanice Galloway notes that donuts occupy a prominent position.
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    Shanice Galloway notes that donuts occupy a prominent position.
  • Nura Green warns the students that a can of Progresso Soup labeled "light" may not be as healthy as it first seems.
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    Nura Green warns the students that a can of Progresso Soup labeled "light" may not be as healthy as it first seems.
  • The nutrition label on the Progresso "Light" Soup reveals low fat content and only 60 calories per serving, but lots of sodium.
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    The nutrition label on the Progresso "Light" Soup reveals low fat content and only 60 calories per serving, but lots of sodium.
  • The class leaves Safeway and heads back to Anacostia Park, passing a healthcare billboard that reads "It Takes More than an Apple a Day."
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    The class leaves Safeway and heads back to Anacostia Park, passing a healthcare billboard that reads "It Takes More than an Apple a Day."
  • And just down the road, tucked among half a dozen fast-food restaurants, is a McDonald's.
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    And just down the road, tucked among half a dozen fast-food restaurants, is a McDonald's.

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