WRITING CHANGE

American Library Association

The largest library organization in the world, ALA works to promote libraries and library education in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. WRITING CHANGE funds have supported an innovative pilot project for twelve libraries in the U.S., partnering with local artists to implement arts programming that builds literacy and digital skills for distinct populations – including youth at risk of low educational or employment attainment. The ALA digital access program expands libraries’ reach into their community and increases libraries’ visibility as a path to educational persistence, economic mobility, and civic participation. The project emphasizes diverse artistic expression as a platform for community. 

“Literacy is not just reading and writing. It is how we explore, excavate, uncover, interpret, and unravel the world around us. It is essential for us – as both individuals and as a society – to grow from just accumulating knowledge to cultivating wisdom.” - Willa Taylor, ALA Civic Imagination Station project instructor

Girls Write Now

For 25 years, Girls Write Now has been breaking down barriers of gender, race, age, and poverty to mentor the next generation of writers and leaders who are impacting businesses, shaping culture, and creating change. They match young adults—over 90% of color, 90% high need, 75% immigrant or first generation, and 25% LGBTQ/gender expansive—with professional writers and multimedia makers as their personal mentors and immerse them in a supportive and networked community of writers—for life. Girls Write Now ranks as one of the top youth programs nationally. Through support from WRITING CHANGE, Girls Write Now has created a greater national presence in its core programming and expanded its reach.

“As a writer and reader, literacy is everything to me. It helps me make sense of myself and my experiences and gives me a way to connect with others through the written word. Every book I pick up, every poem I write, grants me the freedom to understand and shape my world.” -Asma Al-Masyabi (GWN Grantee)

Latinx KidLit Book Festival

The Latinx KidLit Book Festival (LKBF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to foster a love of story and literacy while increasing empathy and conversation among educators, students, and book lovers to uplift and champion the voices of Latinx KidLit book creators. The LKBF’s School Visit program, supported by WRITING CHANGE, continues to bring reading to life by uplifting literacy and increasing representation in classrooms.

The program offers Latinx students the opportunity to see their identity reflected in the books they read while also offering non-Latinx students' insight into the beauty and complexity of Latin culture. LKBF is expanding the in-person footprint of the program and offering sets of classroom books for participating schools. 

MIGIZI

Based in Minnesota, MIGIZI provides a strong circle of support that nurtures the educational, social, economic, and cultural development of American Indian youth. WRITING CHANGE supported MIGIZI’s First Person Production program equipping young Native people with 21st century media skills, teaching them how they can make a positive impact in Native media representation, and providing an arts and media space for emerging storytellers.

"As Native people, we have always been storytellers. To us, literacy is the ability to share stories through cultural modes of communication like singing, writing, praying, reading, spoken word, and even filmmaking." Phidamayaye (thank you) -MIGIZI

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB)

We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that runs twelve exciting initiatives united under one goal—to combat systemic racism and oppression by creating a world where everyone can find themselves on the pages of a book. Through support from WRITING CHANGE, WNDB has furthered its work in tailored grants, mentorship programs, workshops, and community building, with particular support provided to advance The Native Fund, The Black Creatives Fund, and the Revisions Workshop.

“At We Need Diverse Books, we believe that literacy, equity, and inclusion are fundamentally related. Children need books that are windows and mirrors into the human experience—a ‘mirror’ book will reflect a child’s life and allow them to feel seen while a ‘window’ book will introduce kids to experiences outside of their own. When young readers have access to diverse stories, we not only see literacy rates soar, we also witness an increase in empathy and a reduction of bias.” -WNDB

Wide Angle Youth Media

Through media arts education, Wide Angle Youth Media collaborates with and amplifies the voices of Baltimore youth to engage audiences across social divides. The organization’s programs inspire creativity and instill confidence in young people, supporting them to navigate school, career, and life. Individuals develop media arts skills to capture, document, and write the stories of our time–cultivating young adults who are civically engaged, socially networked, and fully prepared to lead.

WRITING CHANGE supports Wide Angle’s core programming of creative media workshops which have produced thousands of projects and inspired millions of audience members. 

52nd Street Project

The 52nd Street Project brings together young people (ages 9 - 18) with theater professionals in the New York City neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen to create original theater offered free of charge to the public. Through the experiences of accomplishment and collaboration, the Project fosters a sense of creativity and inclusion in a place where young people’s work is the driving force.

In partnership with WRITING CHANGE, the grant supports year-round programming for the Project’s young people including playmaking, where members write short musicals for adult artists to perform; playback, where members create shows for themselves to perform alongside adult professionals; and the Teen Ensemble, an advanced training course where the oldest Project members devise full length works to perform themselves. Additional support includes arts expansion programming in songmaking, character workshop, dancemaking, and academic support.