The Pathfinder Network Releases 11th Anthology of Creative Works by 60 Systems-Impacted Youth, “A Secret Chord: Poetry, Stories & Art”
Celebrate this powerful collection of poetry, stories, and art by 60 systems-impacted youth by pre-ordering a book and attending our Book Release & Showcase on May 28, 2026 in Portland, Oregon!
The creators represented in A Secret Chord: Poetry, Stories & Art are a testament to the power of transforming pain into poetry, silence into song, sorrow into art, and isolation into community. These teens write searingly of this historical moment, some anonymously and some in their own names.
As Leticia Longoria-Navarro, Executive Director of The Pathfinder Network, reminds us—expression is power, and even the softest voice, uttering truth, can shake the world. These young people “are not simply telling stories; [they] are rewriting what is possible.”
Research indicates that a significant number of U.S. children—one in 14—experience the incarceration of a parent. The PATHfinder Club and POPS the Club provide safe spaces empowering youth to express their life experiences through creative outlets. This process of self-expression is at the heart of these powerful anthologies.
This special anthology is now available to pre-order! A Secret Chord: Poetry, Stories & Art will be released on May 19, 2026.
WHAT: Members of the press, advocates, and community members are invited to join The Pathfinder Network at our Book Release & Showcase to celebrate the publication of A Secret Chord: Poetry, Stories & Art. Enjoy readings by contributors, book signings, and light refreshments. Books, stickers, and art prints will be available for purchase; all proceeds support our programs. This event is free to attend. The event will be livestreamed on The Pathfinder Network’s Facebook page.
WHEN: Thursday, May 28, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
WHERE: Parkrose High School Library, 12003 NE Shaver St, Portland, OR 97220
ABOUT: The PATHfinder Club (Paving a Trail of Hope) and POPS the Club (Pain of the Prison System) are programs of The Pathfinder Network, which provides justice system-impacted individuals and families with the tools and support they need to be safe and thrive in our communities. These arts-based support clubs provide support and resources to teens impacted by incarceration, detention, and deportation, transforming hurt and harm to hope and healing. Learn more at www.thepathfinderclub.org.
TITLE: A Secret Chord: Poetry, Stories & Art
PUBLISHER: Out of the Woods Press
RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2026
PRE-ORDER LINK: www.outofthewoodspress.com/buy
FOR MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT: Grace Stopher, Marketing and Communications Manager, gstopher@thepathfindernetwork.org
There are few things more powerful than giving young people a safe space to tell their stories, especially those who have been impacted by incarceration, detention, and deportation. A Secret Chord is more than an anthology; it’s a healing force and platform for redemptive ideas. These pages carry the weight of truth, the beauty of resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to transform pain into poetry and art.
—SHAKA SENGHOR, NY Times Bestselling Author of Writing My Wrongs, Speaker, Coach, and Resilience Expert