The Visual Author, short photographic stories by Kara Mia Collier-Ibañez
Public School Projects
Over the past decade, I've had the privilege of collaborating with my mother, award-winning children's book illustrator Roberta Collier-Morales, to create unique projects with public school students. Throughout the school year, we guide students in bringing their imaginations to life. We help them craft short stories, then use their written words and personal portraits to create hand-drawn, animated illustrations. The final pieces are showcased in a fun, end-of-year celebration.
In 2011, I was the photographer for my daughter's school yearbook. I served as the head of the yearbook club, which allowed me to get to know the students well and collaborate with them on creating something special. A major part of my role was creating unique and engaging layouts for the book and securing sponsorships from community businesses. These ads provided the club with the funds to add more pages, which we used to create unique layouts and sections for the graduating class. The end result was always a magical keepsake for the students.
Running Ads let us
promote local businesses while paying for extra pages in the year book!
The Yearbook Club Flatiron's Elementary School
Posing for their portraits for THE HALL OF FAME the graduating elementary class decorates their personal images to hang up for their big day.
First Day/Last Day Portraits
Talley Tiger's own, Mrs. Vivian Carter-Caine, American Historian and paraprofessional bringing history and culture to elementary schools across Atlanta. I raised $350 through the PTO towards display cases, and acquired unused sliding glass enclosed bulletin boards. Fascinated by her collection of Black Inventor Items stemming from the late 1800's to present day, her HBC information wall and her efforts to collect and display all media material on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I wrote an article for circulation on the BOE City of Decatur, GA newsletter in 2024.
FUNDRAISING
As a solo project for the PTA in 2019, I successfully organized and executed the Spring Table Auction. I personally secured and corresponded with over 60 sponsors, built the school's auction website, and prepared all the auction baskets. On the day of the event, I was responsible for curating the display tables and managing the entire auction, which ultimately raised over $5,000 for the PTA.
