Banner Photo 1
Banner Photo 2
Banner Photo 3
Banner Photo 4
YWP_WordLab
Banner Photo 6
Banner Photo 7

When the book was finally finished, and the students presented their stories at Bookshop Santa Cruz, we were completely amazed by the great work completed by all.”

– Rosa Lona, Language Arts Instructor E.A. Hall Middle School

The Young Writers Program Mission:

Maya-and-students_1000

The Young Writers Program is dedicated to Santa Cruz County students in grades 4-12 and their teachers in building students’ writing skills and confidence.

The Young Writers Program is grassroots and we’re passionate about writing. What began in the fall of 2012 with an In-Classroom Program has expanded into three more programs: a Dedicated Writing Room Program, the Hablamos Juntos project, and an After-School Writing Center—The Word Lab– at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.

More Info >

The In-Classroom Project

Community volunteers work as writing assistants in grade 4-12 public school classrooms to assist students on teacher-initiated writing projects. Volunteers generally work in groups of four to five students twice a week, for an hour at a time. Projects typically last six to eight weeks.

Learn More >

The Hablamos Juntos Project

The Hablamos Juntos Project is a collaboration between the Young Writers Program and Museo Eduardo Carrillo, an online museum featuring the work of contemporary California Latinx artists. Samples of the artists’ work are provided to students in a local middle or high school classroom. Students then use the artwork to inspire their personal narrative. A Hablamos Juntos Curriculum is in the works and will be available for teachers to download.

Learn More >

The Word Lab

The Word Lab is an after-school writing center serving local public school classrooms.

Young Writers Program volunteers attend trainings and build a special kind of camaraderie. All trainings are free. Volunteers must be fingerprinted and provide proof of a negative TB test before working in the Word Lab.

All of the Young Writers Program projects have as their goal some type of public sharing of student writing, either a public reading or a professionally designed and produced book. In addition, each spring students from all our projects self-select to read a portion of their work at our Year-End Reading at Bookshop Santa Cruz.

This is satisfying stuff! If you are interested in becoming a Writing Project Assistant in the Word Lab, please be in touch. We’d love to hear from you!

Learn More >

If you would like to become a Writing Project Assistant, please click here to register >

Community Partners: