A nonprofit organization's project that introduces at-risk kids in the Phoenix area to photography is back for its 2016 iteration.

Kids in Focus is the brainchild of Karen Shell, a frequent contributor to Arizona Highways. During an intensive nine-week session, 26 students from Children First Academy in Phoenix take weekly field trips to photo shoots and receive mentorship from 12 professional photographers. The project aims to teach photography and problem-solving skills that the students can use in other environments.

The program is underway now, and it culminates with a public exhibition of the students' photos. That exhibition is set to open Friday, March 4 (First Friday), with a reception at Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and features food and music.

For more information, visit www.kidsinfocus.org.