Our Impact
Our Long Term Goals
It is well documented that children who experience the devastating burdens of poverty, trauma, discrimination, and/or learning disabilities are statistically less likely to move beyond their circumstances and develop adequate literacy skills. Layered on top of that is the surge of depression and anxiety among children due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Children who can harness the power and potential of their own voice can grow to become strong voices in their communities, leading to a healthier and more equitable future for everyone.
- ADVANCE LITERACY - As with learning to play an instrument, repetition is key to advancement. Frequent and sustained “low-stakes” writing practice over time builds literacy fluency, improves overall writing and reading skills, deepens thinking, and desensitizes students to the fear of the blank page.
- GROW CONFIDENCE - Developing confidence and command in both written and oral expression through live performance and publication of their work validates each student’s existence as a unique individual with a unique voice and leads to self-confidence and success.
- MANAGE EMOTIONS & BUILD RESILIENCY - Frequent opportunities to write and reflect on a variety of personal topics in a safe environment provides students with the tools to identify and manage emotions, process trauma, and build emotional resilience.
- BUILD EMPATHY & CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY - Writing, sharing, and “listening with care” to peers’ personal stories in a supportive peer writing community builds empathy and life-affirming relationships while also developing the ability to influence cultural and political discourse, contributing to an equitable community.
2021 Annual Report
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INCREASE IN DAILY PRACTICE 85% of students increased average “daily words written” over time showing increased fluency and overall command of the language (2021)
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INCREASE IN CONFIDENCE 75% of students reported feeling improved personal confidence in writing and/or personal expression from beginning to end of the program (2021).
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INCREASE IN WELLBEING 64% of students reported feeling an improved sense of connectedness, joy, and emotional stability (2021) .
5980
Youths Served
(36% increase from 2020!)
1370
+entries into High School Writing Contest
10
96schools served across central fl
*Note: Results were measured from participating students in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
