https://annaadamson.com/photo-2/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9819.jpgAQ4A9819https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9812.jpgAQ4A9812https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9803.jpgAQ4A9803https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9771.jpgAQ4A9771https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9749.jpgAQ4A9749https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9749-2.jpgAQ4A9749-2https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9723.jpgAQ4A9723https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9721.jpgAQ4A9721https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9710.jpgAQ4A9710https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aq4a9694.jpgAQ4A96942026-03-31T08:05:43+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/about/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mitofeb-7-of-18-copy.pngMitoFeb (7 of 18) copyhttps://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mitofeb-7-of-18-copy-1.jpgMitoFeb (7 of 18) copy2026-03-19T19:15:30+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/minneapolis-st-paul-business-journal/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/screenshot-2026-01-16-at-4.24.58-pm.pngScreenshot 2026-01-16 at 4.24.58 PMhttps://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/screenshot-2026-01-16-at-4.23.49-pm.pngScreenshot 2026-01-16 at 4.23.49 PM2026-02-03T21:41:01+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/more-photography/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aq4a4454.pngAQ4A4454https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aq4a4087.jpgAQ4A4087https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aq4a4196-2.jpgAQ4A4196-2https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aq4a4206.jpgAQ4A42062026-01-14T00:19:12+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/photo/2025-12-12T01:40:48+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/freelance-writing/2025-12-12T01:38:51+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/audio-updated/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/screenshot-2025-11-30-at-8.00.09-pm.pngScreenshot 2025-11-30 at 8.00.09 PM2025-12-11T23:21:47+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/658-2/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05_adamson.jpg05_adamsonNaser shows the city of Herat —where he and and Farzana are from— on a map. Located in western Afghanistan, Herat, is also where they attended university: Naser for political science and Farzana for economics. Since retaking power, the Taliban has effectively shut women out of public life and has barred girls 12 and older from attending school beyond sixth grade— a ban extended to female university students. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/06_adamson.jpg06_adamsonFarzana sits for a portrait in her Highland Park home. During the day, she takes online English language classes and takes care of her youngest son, Miran. Next year when he begins preschool, she hopes to begin working. "I want to have a job in the school," She says. "In the future, I want to be an assistant teacher." (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/04_adamson.jpg04_adamsonFarzana frequently makes yogurt and Afghan naan, which sit on top of a cloth brought by her sister from Afghanistan. Farzana says she has taught many of her Minnesotan neighbors how to make yogurt. As the oldest daughter in her family, Farzana recalls being busy cooking for the family, taking care of her siblings and studying. "I didn't have any time for [learning to make] carpets or sewing," She says. "Just cooking!" (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/07_adamson.jpg07_adamsonFarzana shows a traditional Afghan dress gifted to her in the U.S. It is special, she says, because it reminds her of home. "After four years, I am okay, I am happy. But it is difficult too, because I miss my [past] life," She says. " I miss my classmates, I miss my friends, I miss my country— especially my parents because they are getting older." (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/02_adamson.jpg02_adamsonFarzana and Naser sitting together in their Highland Park home on a rug made by Farzana's sisters. “The first year [in Minnesota] was very difficult," Farzana says. "I grew up in one place, one country, with all of my family and friends, and suddenly we had to separate from that life.” Farzana has a large family: four sisters and four brothers. Two sisters and a brother now live in the U.S., another brother is in England and the rest are in Afghanistan. The family stays in touch via WhatsApp, but Taliban crackdowns on the Internet have hindered this. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/08_adamson.jpg08_adamsonNaser sits with his youngest son, Miran (3). “I will not be able to go back [to Afghanistan], and I'm not going, this is my home," Naser says. "So I have to use this chance— for my kids’ education and for myself as well." Many, like Naser, risked their lives to support the U.S. as interpreters, contractors and allies. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01_adamson.jpg01_adamsonFarzana Mohammadi (left) and her husband, Naser Mohammadi (center) have four sons— Miran (right) is the youngest and will begin preschool next year. When the couple left Afghanistan in 2021, Farzana was pregnant with their third son. They were amoung the 74,190 Afghans evacuated to the U.S. that year. In Afghanistan, Naser worked closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in non-profit project management. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03_adamson.jpg03_adamsonLeft to right: Mesaq, (6) Miran (3) and Masihullah (11) playing a game together on their iPad. Their older brother, Mesbah (16), is at a soccer game. At home, the brothers tend to speak Dari with their parents and English with each other. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/dsc08356-2.jpg11/4/25 Fateh election party, Courtyard by Marriott in downtownAmalay Mohammad takes off her shoes as she awaits election results at the Fateh election night party. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/dsc07959-2.jpgDSC07959-2Steve Mechelke cheering on his players after a goal at Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis, Minn. on Oct. 18, 2025. Mechelke has coached for the girls' offseason Premier Prep league for three years and during the winter, he coaches the girls' varsity hockey team at Farmington High School— where he's been for over a decade.2025-12-11T22:59:10+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/writing/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/saara-hassoun-mn-aurora_900xx2560-1440-0-134.jpgsaara-hassoun-mn-aurora_900xx2560-1440-0-134https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05992-2.jpgDSC05992-2Luisana Méndez (center) leads a group of amateur kayakers at Taylor's Falls, Minn., on September 21, 2025. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05931-2.jpgDSC05931-2Luisana Méndez, the founder of Huellas Latinas, and her husband, Rodney Guerrero, kayak at Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. Guerrero helps Méndez organize the events for Huellas Latinas, jokingly calling himself the "co-presidente." (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05994-2.jpgDSC05994-2Rodney Guerrero, the husband of Luisana Méndez who founded Huellas Latinas, kayaks at Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. Guerrero helps Méndez organize the events for Huellas Latinas, jokingly calling himself the "co-presidente." (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05952-2.jpgDSC05952-2https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05999-2.jpgDSC05999-2A group taking a short break while kayaking during a day trip in Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. During the break, everyone introduced themselves by saying their name and country of origin. The attendees were primarily from Latin American countries including Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05889-2.jpgDSC05889-2The daughter of Kenneth J. Ortiz Scott, a Huellas Latinas board member, waiting to depart for kayaking at Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. Scott brings his 4 children to many of Huellas Latinas' outdoor events. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05941-2.jpgDSC05941-2A woman kayaking with a local nonprofit, Huellas Latinas, at Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. The nonprofit's mission is to build community among Latino immigrants in Minnesota through outdoor recreation and nature connection. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05934-2.jpgDSC05934-2Luisana Méndez, the founder of Huellas Latinas, and her husband, Rodney Guerrero, kayak at Taylor's Falls, Minn. on September 21, 2025. The couple, originally from Venezuela, says Taylor's Falls is one of the their favorite locations to visit in the state. (Anna Adamson)https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/dsc05911-2.jpgDSC05911-2Luisana Méndez, the founder of Huellas Latinas, kayaking on September 21, 2025 at Taylor's Falls, Minn. "I just try to find new ways to connect with nature and new ways people can connect with nature," Méndez said. (Anna Adamson)2025-12-08T21:41:45+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.com/design/https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/adamson_magazine.jpgadamson_magazinehttps://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/adamson_poster3.jpgadamson_poster3https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/adamson_poster2.jpgadamson_poster2https://annaadamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/adamson_poster.jpgadamson_poster2025-04-23T22:16:24+00:00weekly0.6https://annaadamson.comdaily1.02026-03-31T08:05:43+00:00