so what is vanguard?

i realized last night that some of the viewers of this blog really don't have any background information about vanguard. the project, which is in its fourth year, is about empowering young adults to communicate their world views by using photographs as the vehicle for communication. anyway, the project abstract goes like'a this...
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the goal of the vanguard photography project is relatively simple. by creating a series of photographic works and writing about the images, the students are introduced to the peculiar power of photography to illuminate the subtleties of culture and personal interaction. in collaboration with a visiting artist, the participants propose an avenue of pursuit and create a series of photographs to that end. a participants are free to decide their project directions. past endeavors have shown that some students will choose a traditional documentary approach to their photography, while others investigate a more abstract route. the role of the visiting artist is to direct and advise; to act as facilitator and mentor.
the cross-curricular facets of the project, which include writing and historical investigation, will act to foster a deeper understanding of the history of the region, an appreciation for their particular generational contributions, and through presentations to community groups, an appreciation of certain universal realities connected with growing to adulthood.
the project, which lasts one academic semester, culminates with a an exhibit of student work in a gallery space built for this exhibit at southwestern high school, and the publication of a book and cd of the images.