"THERE IS NO GREATER AGONY THAN BEARING AN UNTOLD STORY INSIDE YOU." -MAYA ANGELOU
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to provide a collaborative and engaging space for teens to write and be published. Whether they want to write better for school or to simply have an outlet to express what they are feeling in a world that's growing way too noisy for them to be heard, we provide the space for them to amplify.
The Problem
It's the 21st century. The age of technology. The information age. Teens are on their phones, on social media, playing games, attending virtual school, dabbling into VR and 3-D printing their art and science projects, but 13% of US teens struggle with the inability to construct a basic sentence. Among minority youth, that number is 44 %. (Department of Education)
How did we get here?
We are failing our teens when the only reason we encourage them to write is for the drill and kill of school-related essays. Teens are no longer interested in the craft of writing because the mechanics of writing makes writing uninteresting. Mechanics are important, but can be taught in a multitude of ways other than rote instruction. Teens need to be able to write freely, without stopping, without being timed and without being judged.
How did we get here?
We are failing our teens when the only reason we encourage them to write is for the drill and kill of school-related essays. Teens are no longer interested in the craft of writing because the mechanics of writing makes writing uninteresting. Mechanics are important, but can be taught in a multitude of ways other than rote instruction. Teens need to be able to write freely, without stopping, without being timed and without being judged.
The Solution
At #TeenWritersProject, we are building strong connections with teens in order to give them a platform to express themselves through writing. Writing is the currency of a 21st century workforce and global economy, a tool for generational storytelling and shapeshifting folklore. So our goal is to make sure that we build that arch, one word at a time, freely and creatively. We want teens to fall in love or rekindle their relationship with writing.
OUR MISSION and VISION
Rooted in literary finesse...
Rooted in literary finesse...
CULTURAL EQUITY
Literary and artistic citizenship is the obligation of writers and artists to raise and address the nuances of social, political, economic, ethical, cultural and historical praxis in what they create. It is also the investment in the resources in policies, practices, and actions that produce equitable access, power, and outcomes for all we serve.
At #TeenWritersProject, we recognize that historically, systems of privilege and access are unequal, especially in education, in publishing, and oddly, among teens. So, in order to create a more socially and culturally sustainable, and just, literary culture as diverse and equitable as the stories we will read and write, it is our obligation to welcome and support all teens, regardless of their race, culture, zip code, disability, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, social, cultural or economic status.
At #TeenWritersProject, we recognize that historically, systems of privilege and access are unequal, especially in education, in publishing, and oddly, among teens. So, in order to create a more socially and culturally sustainable, and just, literary culture as diverse and equitable as the stories we will read and write, it is our obligation to welcome and support all teens, regardless of their race, culture, zip code, disability, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, social, cultural or economic status.
THE HASHTAG
Teens are a dope group of people! With a symbol, they have the power to become activists after tragedy, organize historic anti-gun rallies, register 50,000+ people to vote and distribute more than 11,000 books to libraries, schools and the community, to say the least, all without much input from adults.
Because of that, I'm a firm believer in meeting teens where they are, and social media is where they are. With that, it is our adult obligation to start and trend conversations about topics that matter to teens, then initiate solutions for change. By using language, codes and images that teens relate to, we can increase the number of supporters who can expand the conversation. #teenwritersproject
Because of that, I'm a firm believer in meeting teens where they are, and social media is where they are. With that, it is our adult obligation to start and trend conversations about topics that matter to teens, then initiate solutions for change. By using language, codes and images that teens relate to, we can increase the number of supporters who can expand the conversation. #teenwritersproject