Please help us secure a $2,500 matching gift this North Texas Giving Day to meet our fundraising goal of $5,000, which will help us improve the writing skills of more teen writers and get them published!
Since 2018, #TeenWritersProject has provided a space where teens can write, be published, and get paid, as a means to promote creativity, agency, and equity in publishing and education. We support our mission by offering programs that empower teens to develop their writing skills and explore their creative potential, exposing them to both the craft and career of writing.
Support for Teen Writers
Our programs not only help teens academically but also provide them with the creative and professional skills necessary for success in any field. To date, we have published more than 550 teens, served 90% low-income students, hosted 50 writing workshops, and provided 20 teens with paid opportunities. Your support on North Texas Giving Day, and throughout the year, will double our impact and help us continue preparing, supporting, and publishing the next generation of storytellers.
Out of School
Teens Write Now Membership Program ($5,000): Our three-level membership program gives all teens access to writing resources, monthly critique sessions, and a supportive community of peers and mentors who help them refine their craft and build confidence.
Creative Workshops ($6,000): By request, we host workshops covering a wide range of topics, from storytelling techniques and publishing basics, to our more literary-specific topics such as our Permanent INK (Immersive Narratives by Kendrick) and Baldwin's W.I.S.D.O.M. (Writing, Insight, Social Dialogue, and Outspoken Messaging) workshops. These workshops are designed to inspire and equip teens with the tools they need to express themselves creatively and pursue writing as a career.
Teen Writers-in-Residence Summer Program ($10,000): This immersive summer program allows teens to dive deep into the world of writing. Participants work closely with industry professionals, developing a piece of writing from concept to completion, with the goal of being published by the end of the program.
High School-to-Hire Program ($7,000): Our High School-to-Hire initiative provides 15 teens, annually, with real-world job experiences in writing, editing, and media, preparing them for careers in the creative industries. This program is a bridge from academic learning to professional application, and offers teens paid opportunities that align with their passions.
We offer programs that not only fuel creativity in teens, but also improve their reading, writing, social, creative, and cultural literacy—key skills often overlooked in high school that are necessary for their fast-approaching career goals.
In School Programming
While K-8th grade students have resources to nurture their imaginations, high school often shifts to a relentless focus on test prep which causes teens to either get bored or fall behind because of their lack of confidence in their ability to write well. Our programs break that cycle by offering teens opportunities to thrive creatively and academically with resources such as our L.I.T. Writers-in-Schools Program ($5,000).
The experiences we provide for teens in and our of school are an invitation for them to take a closer look at themselves and investigate their goals and their world from a place of compassion and spirit without consequence or judgment. We also support teachers by providing resources and professional development training that senhance classroom learning.
#TeenWritersProject provides a collaborative and engaging space for teens to write, be published, and get paid as a means to promote creativity, agency, and equity in publishing and education.
All of our programs are free or low-cost for teens. Your one-time donation of $450 can sponsor a teen on their journey to becoming a better writer and getting published.
Want to make an even bigger impact? A contribution of $350 monthly or $650 quarterly supports our broader initiatives, including workforce development, literacy programs, and the publication of our Lit Zine, journals, and workbooks.
Your support empowers the next generation of fearless storytellers and helps break cycles of generational poverty.
Literary and artistic citizenship is the obligation of writers and artists to raise awareness and address the nuances of social, political, economic, environmental, cultural, and historical praxis in what we 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 specifically, 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.
Organization name
#TeenWritersProject
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Executive Director/CEO
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
539 W Commerce St., Suite 542