Portland Exhibit Showcases Black Students' Leadership Trip to Ghana

Word Is Bond program takes young men to West Africa to foster global citizenship and self-discovery.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A local leadership group in Portland, Oregon that works with young Black men is showcasing a transformative journey to Ghana in a new photo exhibit. The exhibit features images from the summer trip, including a powerful photograph of a student dressed in traditional Kente cloth at the Cape Coast slave dungeon. The annual trip to West Africa can dramatically shift students' perspectives, especially for those growing up in the predominantly white city of Portland.

Why it matters

The Ghana trip serves as the capstone of the Word Is Bond leadership program, allowing students to develop a global perspective and sense of identity beyond the limited narratives often imposed on young Black men. The exhibit highlights how immersive experiences can broaden worldviews and foster self-reflection.

The details

The 'We Are Back Home' exhibit is on display through March 31 at Studio 516 in Northwest Portland. It features photographs taken by local photographer Jason Hill documenting the group's recent trip to Ghana. Abeal Sihel, a senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School in Vancouver, was one of six young men who traveled to Ghana through the Word Is Bond program.

  • The exhibit opened on February 17, 2026.
  • The Ghana trip took place in the summer prior to the exhibit opening.

The players

Word Is Bond

A local leadership incubator that works with young Black men in Portland, Oregon.

Abeal Sihel

A senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School in Vancouver who was one of six young men who traveled to Ghana through the Word Is Bond program.

Lakayana Yotoma Drury

The founder and executive director of the Word Is Bond program.

Jason Hill

A local photographer who documented the group's trip to Ghana.

Studio 516

The gallery in Northwest Portland where the 'We Are Back Home' exhibit is on display.

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What they’re saying

“These are the stairs that lead down to the river, the Last Bath.”

— Abeal Sihel, Senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School (kgw.com)

“It was kind of a surreal moment for me. I really felt what I thought they felt, too.”

— Abeal Sihel, Senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School (kgw.com)

“I think it's so important, coming from a city like Portland that's so predominantly white, to literally go to the exact opposite. Be able to feel it, touch it, taste it.”

— Lakayana Yotoma Drury, Founder and executive director of Word Is Bond (kgw.com)

“We never think about the rest of the world. It's just centralized on the U.S. and things that happen here. But yeah, there's so much more!”

— Abeal Sihel, Senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School (kgw.com)

“In order to be a leader, you have to see other people's perspectives. You can't push anyone out of the way, because then you're not a leader.”

— Abeal Sihel, Senior ambassador from Henrietta Lacks High School (kgw.com)

What’s next

The 'We Are Back Home' exhibit will be on display at Studio 516 in Northwest Portland through March 31, 2026.

The takeaway

The Ghana trip organized by the Word Is Bond program provides a transformative experience for young Black men in Portland, allowing them to develop a global perspective, a stronger sense of identity, and an understanding of effective leadership beyond the limited narratives often imposed on them.