Hampden Academy, a Maine high school, extended their AWTT partnership to two months, by opting to host four portraits in November 2025 and four portraits in May 2026.

The November portraits – Dianna Cohen, Julia Butterfly Hill, Maulian Dana Bryant and Esther Anne – focused on two themes, Wabanaki studies and environmental policy, while supporting the integration of art and social studies.

According to Emily Albee, social studies teacher and 2022 Penobscot Teacher of the Year, “These stunning Truth Teller portraits are used as a way for my high school students to generate ideas and conversations about the various qualities needed to navigate telling the truth and to do what is right even if it is not easy. My students will do research on these portraits and connect their learning to a policy issue in our government class or an aspect of our Wabanaki Studies. These portraits will also help my students define the concepts of advocate and advocacy and how they apply to issues students care about.”

In this photo, folks from Wabanaki Studies Education visited with Hampden students about the history of their people, as Penobscot leader and educator Esther Anne looks on from her AWTT portrait. This is one of the many poignant educational experiences Hampden students enjoyed during the November portion of their partnership program.

And from art teacher Adele Drake: “Here is a photo of students learning about Dianna Cohen, whose work is inspiring our current art installation, Fish of the Penobscot. This is a sculpture class, and students will be installing their wire fish sculptures in the front entrance of the school.

“The theme of the installation centers on the fish of the Penobscot River. Through their artwork, students are acting as allies with the Wabanaki people, using art to raise awareness about the importance of the health of the river and its fish, which are vital to both the ecosystem and Wabanaki culture.”