A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DearCosmicWritersCommunity,
“At first, I didn’t like writing, but now, I love writing.”
That’sthesinglemostimportantsentenceinthisannualreport.
–Christopher, 11 years old
Aspartofourannualsummerprogramming,weruncreativewritingworkshopsindaycampsthroughout Philadelphia.Thisyear,oneofmyfavoriteswasanundersea-fantasyworkshopinwhichstudentscreated theirownmaritimemonsters,heldaspartofacampwithalongtimepartnerorganization,theCambodian AssociationofGreaterPhiladelphia.Onthelastdayoftheworkshop,asalways,weaskedthecampersfor reflectionsandfeedback.Christopher’scommentwasoneofthosereflections.
CosmicWritersmakesourimpactbyhelpingchildrenlikeChristophertodevelopaloveofwriting.When kidsdon’tseethemselvesaswriters,it’softenbecausetheyhaven’tyetencounteredaformofwritingthat excitesthem.Manychildrenbelievethat“writing”islimitedtothe5-paragraphessay agenrethatsome kidsenjoy,ofcourse,butthatisfarfromuniversallyappealing.Asaresult,itdoesn’talwaysmotivate childrentodeveloptheirwritingskills.CosmicWritersmakessurethatkidsexperiencethefullgamutof formsthatwritingcantake:inventinguniquefantasyseacreatures,penningop-edsabouttheissuesthat mattertothem,tellingthestoriesthattheywishtheysawontheirbookshelves.
Whenkidsencounterwritinginformsthatresonatewiththem,they’remuchmorelikelytofallinlove withwriting,andtobecomeself-motivatedtohonetheirliteracyandcommunicationskills.That’swhythe themeofour2024–2025annualcampaignis“TheWriterattheCore.”Webelievethatallchildrenhave writersinsidethem,andourjobistohelpthosewriterssoartothesurface.
Thisyear,wehadtheprivilegeofunlockingthewritersatthecoresof morethan3,000children.We’reontracktoreach5,000morein2025. Withthededicationofourpassionatecommunity,itisanhonoranda joytoworktowardaworldinwhichallchildrenfeelempoweredtocall themselveswriters.
Keeponwriting,
RowanaMiller FounderandExecutiveDirector
Rowana
MISSION
CosmicWritersprovideschildrenwiththetools, knowledge,andopportunitiestowritecreatively.
HIGHLIGHTS
•Publishedourfirstcreativewritingactivitybook, TheMonster-BuildingHandbook
•Createdanadventure-writingworkshopforthe NewYorkPublicLibrary,taught29timesandthus reachingmorethan400children,inordertohelpkids submittotheNYPLsummerwritingcontest
•Ranour5thsummerofWordCamp,ourvirtual creativewritingcamp
•Completedashortstoryresidencywithourfirst NewYorkCitypublicschool
•DeepenedourpartnershipwiththePhiladelphia SchoolDistrictbyserving12Phillypublicschools
VALUES
CREATIVITY COMES FIRST
Encouragingimaginativeandcritical thinkingsothatallchildrenknowthat theirvoicesmatter
BUILD A FOUNDATION OF LITERACY
Helpingchildrentobecomestrong writers,readers,andthinkers
EQUITY THROUGH ACCESSIBILITY
Bringingwritingtochildrenwhere theyare,bothgeographicallyand pedagogically
EVERYONE CREATES THE COMMUNITY
Developingacultureoffeedbackin whichallCWuniversemembers contributetoournorms
CULTIVATE THE JOY OF WRITING
Craftingfunenvironmentsthatcreate positiveconnotationsaroundwriting
THE MONSTER-BUILDING HANDBOOK
OneofCosmicWriters’biggestchallengesismeetingthefull extentoftheneedforcreativewritingeducation.We’re growingasfastaswecan,butasaneworganization,wecan’t yetdirectlyrunprogramsineveryclassroomthatrequestsan in-personcreativewritingworkshop.
That’swhyweintroducedouractivitybookseries, beginningwithTheMonster-BuildingHandbook,published inJune2024.Ourbookscombinenarrativewithwriting promptstoguidekidsthroughtheprocessofdeveloping originalstories.Inordertosupporteducatorsinutilizingthe books,wecreatedcorrespondingEducatorToolkitsthat includecurriculum,professionaldevelopment,andlistsof statestandardsfulfilledbyourmaterials.Withthisnew initiative,anyeducatorcanteachaCosmic-Writers-style creativewritingworkshop.
Theactivitybookshavebeenahit,with1,200+children learningcreativewritingfromTheMonster-Building Handbookin2024 Welookforwardtopublishingournext activitybookin2025!
Pilot Partner Educators Used the Activity Books to...
Empowerstudents totryoutnewwaysof expressingtheirideas
Preparestudentsfor futurewritinginsideand outsidetheclassroom
Boostcreativityand criticalthinking skills
Createpositive associationswith writing
“Whilewedoalotofwritinginmyclassroom,wedon'tdomuchfiction.TheHandbookprovided astructured,veryengagingopportunitytoincludesomefictionwritinginmyclassroom.”
–Gill, 2nd grade teacher, Powel Elementary
IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS
WithourstaffofpassionatecollegestudentinstructorsonthegroundinPhiladelphiaandNewYork, CosmicWritersrunsprogramingwithschools,libraries,communityorganizations.Herearesomeofthe highlightsfromtheyear:
Monster-Building at Neighborhood Events
WiththereleaseofTheMonster-BuildingHandbook,wewanted toreachasmanylocalfamiliesaspossible,withafocuson servinglow-incomecommunities.Inadditiontoworkingwith schoolsandafterschoolprogramstoutilizetheHandbooks,we builtnewcommunitypartnershipstorunminimonsterbuildingworkshopsatfamily-friendlyevents.
Aswerantheseworkshops,werealizedthatmanyparticipants wereyoungerthan3rdgrade.Tomeettheneedsofourentire community,wedevelopedversionsofourmonster-building materialsforchildreninearlierstagesofliteracy;takealookat themonsterprofileshowcasedbythestudentinthisphoto!
640 children servedthrough communityevents inNewYorkCity
735 children servedthrough communityevents inPhiladelphia
45 children servedthrougha communityevent inNewJersey
Residency at the Salk School of Science
ForourfirstprogramwiththeNewYorkCityDepartmentof Education,wehadtheopportunitytoconductatwo-week shortstoryresidencyforthefull7thgradeattheSalkSchool ofScience.IncollaborationwiththeSalkstaff,wedivided studentsintosmallgroupstolearnnarrative-writinginthe genresthatweremostexcitingtothem:mythology,horror, dystopianfiction,realisticfiction,orhistoricalfiction.
"During these lessons my [Cosmic Writers] teacher helped me a lot and pushed me to be a better writer."
–Adel, 12 years old, Historical Fiction at
Salk
Creative Writing Elective at Revolution School
Inanextensionofourlongstandingpartnershipwith Philadelphia-basedhighschoolRevolutionSchool,weranafull creativewritingelectivethisspring.Ourinstructorreflects:
“It’s hard to pinpoint my favorite memory from [the elective]. It could be the collaborative games, like designing a city or inventing a murder mystery, that often began with and always ended in laughter. It could also be our sharing sessions with group feedback, when even those who were hesitant to read their stories walked away feeling uplifted and empowered.”
–Christina, Cosmic Writers Instructor
During & After School at Powel Elementary
Overthepastseveralyears,CosmicWritershasbeenpartof PhillypublicschoolPowelElementary’safterschoolprogram, teachingworkshopsinplaywriting,hip-hoppoetry,and fantasy-writing,amongothergenres Thisfall,deepeningour collaboration,weworkedwithPoweltobringcreativewriting intotheir2ndgradeclassroomduringtheschooldayusing TheMonster-BuildingHandbook
AttheendofPowel’smonster-buildingunit,wewelcomed themtotheUniversityofPennsylvania’sfamedKellyWriters Houseforafieldtrip,wherethestudentsfinalizedandshared theiroriginalmonstercharacters
PARTNERS INCLUDE...
FIELD TRIPS
Overthepastseveralyears,CosmicWritershasbeenproudtohost afternoon-longcreativewritingworkshopsattheKellyWritersHouse (KWH) ourbirthplace,andtheUniversityofPennsylvania’shubfor creativewriting.Philadelphiapublicschoolstudents(2nd–12thgraders) visitKWHandPenn’scampustoexperienceadaydesignedtohelpthem seethemselvesaswriters.Duringtheworkshop,wealsoprovidepizzaor snacks,sostudentscanlunchandlearn!Andattheendofeachvisit,we invitestudentstosharetheirwritingatthesamepodiumthatKWH’s visitingauthorsusetoreadtheirwork.
Thisyear’sworkshoptopicsincluded:
Fairytale and Folklore Writing Blogging
Memoir and Personal Essay
Hermit Crab Poetry
Dark Fiction
Zine Writing and Creation
OneofourmostexcitingKWHworkshopswasourWritingBowlfor juniorsattendingtheHighSchoolForCreativeandPerformingArts (CAPA).
Inthisrapid-firecreativewritingcompetition,studentsdevelopedthree originalpiecesduringthreerounds,witheachroundfocusedona differentgenreofwriting(poetry,fantasy,playwriting,etc).
Atthebeginningofeachround,studentsreceivedamenuofpromptsto inspiretheirpieces Someofourfavoritepromptsincluded:
Youcomehometofindastrangeronyourporch,wearing yourclothesandyourface.Theysay,“Youforgotme!” “Relax,youshouldn’tbeworriedunlessyouhavesomething tohide.”
ThankyoutoCosmicWritersinstructorDedeepyafordesigningthis program,andthankyoutothePennBookstorefordonatingbooksas prizesforWritingBowlwinners!
COSMIC COACHING
Forathirdyear,wepartneredwiththePennGraduateSchoolofEducationtorunCosmicCoaching, ourone-on-onementorshipseries CosmicCoachinghastwocomponents:drop-incoachingonFriday evenings,and8-week-longmentorshipsforparticularlypassionateyoungwriters Thisyear,manyofour writersusedthementorshipstodevelopmajorprojects,rangingfromhorrorstorycollectionsto chapbooks Theyalsofulfilledindividualizedgoals,suchasdevelopingstrongthesisstatementsandcrafting cliffhangerendingsformysterystories
Cosmic Coaching Mentee/Mentor Feature: Brianna and Jillian
WhenBrianna(left)wasaseniorinhighschool,she participatedinCosmicCoachingasamentee,working withJilliantodevelopherfantasy-writing.Thisfall, Briannaenteredcollegeandbecameamentorherself.In hermentorapplication,Briannawrote:
“Last year, I was in a huge writing slump [and] worried that I would lose my passion for creative writing. Trying to regain that motivation, I applied for a Cosmic Coach for fiction writing. I spent the year with two coaches and it helped me immensely... Now that I am at university, I want to be a part of the community that has helped me. ”
Leftphoto:Milareadsanexcerptofhernovelduring
WORD CAMP & SUMMER INSTITUTE
Everysummersince2020,CosmicWritershashostedvirtualcreativewritingprogrammingthatbrings togetheradventurousyoungwritersfromaroundthecountry.WordCamp,ourprogramforrising3rd–8thgraders,includesavarietyofworkshopsthatguideourparticipantsthroughnewandexcitinggenresof writing.Thisyear,highlightsincluded“SpellsandSkyscrapers”(urbanfantasy)and“HowtoGetAway withMystery”(detectivefiction).Meanwhile,theSummerInstituteforYoungWriters,ourprogramfor rising9th–12thgraders,isthecountry’sfirstdigitalwritingintensivedesignedforhigh-schoolstudents whoarealsobalancingsummerjobsandotherpersonalresponsibilities.
Longtime Word Camper Feature: Pooja
Poojahasbeenimpressinguswithherstorytellingsinceherfirst summerofWordCampin2021.Sincethen,shehaswritten fantasyshortstories,recipepoems,andevenanovella.Shesays:
“Cosmic Writers helped me explore SO many new areas of writing I didn’t even know existed! Through my many summers at Word Camp, I saw the ways I could bring characters alive and make my stories so much more interesting... I wouldn’t be where I am right now in my writing journey if it weren’t for their help!”
ReadsomeofthestandoutsentenceswrittenbyourWordCampersthissummer:
ed it across the sandy shores. Scores their beach day. Ha! As if us humans
–Pooja, Spells and Skyscrapers: Urban Fantasy for 6th–8th Graders
ly eroding their senses, and they were d the constant fear that was gnawing
–Myra, Tales with a Twist: Fairy Tales and Folklore for 6th–8th Graders
quick service and convenience, is elligence (AI) to enhance customer
–Naeto, Hot Off the Press: Journalism for 6th–8th Graders
THE CW CYCLE
Participant in CW programming taught in schools, libraries, and community organizations
Hired and trained to become a junior instructor, senior instructor, and/or mentor in CW programming
Mentee in one-on-one writing coaching program
Word Camper in virtual creative writing camp
CosmicWriters’programmingisdesignedtobecyclical andprovideenrichmentforchildrenateachstageof theirwritingjourneys.Astudentmayreceiveacopyof TheMonster-BuildingHandbookfromaparent;attend oneofourKellyWritersHousefieldtripswiththeir class;andthensignupforamystery-writingworkshop inthenextsummerofWordCamp.Itisthroughthese multipletouchpointsthatourparticipantsareableto receiveconsistentwritinginstruction,andthusbecome strongerwritersinthelong-term.
Ourparticipantscanalso“graduate”tobecomingjunior instructorsinWordCamp,seniorinstructorswhoteach ourin-personworkshops,and/orCosmicCoacheswho workwithmenteesoftheirown.Manyofourstrongest studentsseekouttheseleadershiprolesinordertopass ontheirpassiontothenextgenerationofyoungwriters. Brianna,highlightedintheCosmicCoachingsegment, isoneofthesestudents,asislongtimeCosmicWriter Pooja,whowillbecomeajuniorinstructorinnext summer ’sWordCamp.Andaftertheirtimewith CosmicWriters,ourcollege-studentinstructorsoften pursuecareersinwritingeducation.
Instructor Feature: Sassou
“I first encountered Cosmic Writers in 2021 while working as a program assistant at the Free Library of Philadelphia. At the time... I was sure I was going to go straight to law school upon graduation. So when I was asked to create a workshop for Cosmic Writers I [didn’t know] how transformative it would be in my career plans.
I proposed the idea of a creative writing workshop where students could make their own lyrics and soundtrack, and thus ‘Beats N Rhymes’ was born. In between creating outlines and slides and showing students how to create full phrases with end rhymes, I recognized how much I enjoyed teaching. This propelled me to continue working with Cosmic Writers, later leading workshops like Afrofuturism and Creative Nonfiction in local high schools in West Philadelphia.
I know now, upon graduation, I won’t be going straight to law school... I want to continue incorporating the creative techniques I learned in Cosmic Writers to [help] the urban public schools in my hometown. Currently, I am applying to graduate schools with the hopes of being accepted into a master’s program in
THEORY OF CHANGE
Audience
In-schoolandoutof-school-time educators
whoteach
Childrenwhohave notyethadaccessto high-qualitycreative writingeducation
whobecome
Childrenwho identifyas passionatewriters
Programs
Professional development, curricula, andmaterials forstudents
Creativewriting activitybooksand corresponding creativewriting workshopsinlocal communities
One-on-one mentorshipsand creativewriting
Short-term Impact
Teachersbring creativewriting intotheir classrooms
Children encounterhighqualitycreative writingeducation
Long-term Impact
Teachersgainthe confidenceandskills toincorporate creativewritinginto thewaytheyteach ELA
Childrenhone theirskillsinand loveofwriting
Childrendevelopa loveofwritinganda desiretoimprove theirELAskills
Childrenbecome strong,confident writerswhoutilize writingtomake
Numberof educatorstrained throughcreative writingprofessional development Numb peryea tocre ed
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
CosmicWritersisproudtohaveserved
ofourstudents
Our Population
65% ofourstudents comefromlowincomezipcodes
81% ofourstudents identifyaspeople ofcolor
2024 in Review
96
39 instructors employed workshops run
5 countries reached
After a Cosmic Writers workshop... 81% 83% 58% 79% 3,167 children in 2024
reportedincreased writingconfidence ofourstudentsreported increasedenjoymentof writing ofourstudentsreportedthat theymetorgottoknow someonewithdifferent ideasthanthemselves
21 states reached
ofourstudentsreportedthat theywerelikelytocontinue writingontheirown
=servedbyCosmicWriters
ProgramFees &BookSales: 27%
GRANTS & AWARDS
Funder Feature: The Hayman Foundation
“We are happy to support Cosmic Writers to empower children to achieve success in reaching their goals.”
–Harry, Nancy, & Benjamin Hayman
Berwyn,PA
Generous Support From
THEHAYMANFOUNDATION
PHILADELPHIAPERFORMINGARTS CHARTERSCHOOLJNHS
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS!
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($10–$99)
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BOARD & STAFF
BoardofDirectors
AlFilreis
MichaelCorrey
MiraqueHicks
JoanJocson-Singh
CatherineKeane
AdvisoryBoard
RichardCarter
LynnClark
AshleyCodner
GineydaDiaz
JohnGamba
Jamie-LeeJosselyn(Chair)
JoanLipitz(Co-Chair)
RowanaMiller
AdamSteinhaus(Co-Chair)
BrianWhite
JerryJacobs
IanMcCormack
RaePagliarulo
LaurenGreenShafer
NancyXu
TiffanyYau
LeadershipTeam
RowanaMiller,Founder&ExecutiveDirector
KristenRochaAldrich,DirectorofPrograms
DavidHan,FinanceManager
SophiaHall,SocialMediaManager
MmachiEzigbo,LevinOutreachCoordinator
ProjectConsultants
EmBrandon
MayaKumar
SuhaniMittal
Instructors
ErikaAcosta
TrishaBheemanathini
ClaraBlackwell
ArmieChardiet
DemetraChudley
MadelineChun
CatiaColagioia
SophiaDeGrands
SassouDjato
LauraEugene
MoniqueEzeh
MmachiEzigbo
NidaFazili
DylanFritz
JanetFu
BenGamba
DedeepyaGuthikonda
SophiaHall
GiannaImprota
KarinaJha
DelaneyParks
PoemSchway
NancyXu
EnneKim
SophiaLiu
EmilyMaiorano
MaximilianMajak
ShaanManocha
AlexanderO'Connor
DelaneyParks
ChristinaPoulin
CassandraRendlesham
JuliaRotgin
KeemiaSarafpour
CharlesShen
BenjaminSmall
EllaSohn
JLaurenSoumilas
JadenUrso
ZamiriWelch
AllysonYe
EmiliaYoung
WilliamZong
