Writers in the Schools 14/15 Annual Report

2014 WITS 2015 REPORT

Above: Grant High School student MothSHOP storytellers with Moth producers.

Inspiring the next generation of readers and writers Youth programming at Literary Arts inspires public high school students to write, revise, edit, publish, and perform their own writing through: • Semester-long creative writing residencies (see page 4) • MothSHOP storytelling workshop (see page 5) • Student publication in print and digital chapbooks (see page 6) • Students to the Schnitz program (see page 7) • College Essay Mentoring project (see page 10) • Verselandia! city-wide youth poetry slam (see page 11) Public high school principals, teachers, and librarians throughout Multnomah County partner with Writers in the Schools (WITS) because they believe the program: • Contributes to student achievement in reading and writing • Inspires students to become more enthusiastic writers • Teaches students new tools for becoming stronger writers • Helps build community around literature

2

A SNAPSHOT

11 11

Public High Schools participated in semesterlong residencies taught by professional writers

School Librarians held poetry slams at their schools to prepare for Verselandia!

300 112 were mentored by community members at college essay writing tutorials held at Benson, Franklin, Madison, and Roosevelt High Schools

attended Verselandia!

42 35 24

Classes worked with a writer Teachers learned new strategies to teach writing Local Writers shared their expertise with youth

19 participated in the Verselandia! poetry slam

312 attended WITS student readings

1,049

35 attended slam poetry classes at Literary Arts

986

participated in semester-long residencies

3,600

students served

attended an author event at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

9 were mentored individually and in small groups by writers

8 students performed in The MothSHOP at Grant High School

180 students attended The MothSHOP event at Grant High School

639 participated in author visits to schools

3

RESIDENCIES

WITS RESIDENCIES Residencies are creative writing workshops tailored to meet the unique needs of each teacher and class.

The core of the WITS program is semester-long residencies taught by local professional poets, playwrights, graphic novelists, and fiction and non-fiction writers who model and share their disciplined creative writing practices with high school students. Each residency is uniquely designed to support, deepen, and extend existing curriculum.

Students become stronger, more confident, and more enthusiastic writers by learning new strategies for starting, sustaining, and revising their writing projects. WITS programming reinforces the real world importance of reading and writing in all professions and is designed to meet state and national standards for the arts and language arts.

WITS provides professional development for teachers. 20 of the 35 teachers served by WITS this year had already hosted a writer in the past, demonstrating their confidence in and enthusiasm for the WITS program.

WITS served 15 new-to-WITS teachers, demonstrating our commitment to reach new teachers each year.

WITS hired 24 writers: 18 returning writers to maintain program stability and 6 new writers to add diversity to our roster in terms of race, ethnicity, genre, and aesthetic.

1,049 students participated in semester-long residencies.

Above: A writing activity from poet Melissa Reeser Poulin’s residency at Metropolitan Learning Center.

4

“

Students learned how crucial it is to meet deadlines; they could see the connection between the creative process and an end goal.

— AMY AMBROSIO, TEACHER,

”

ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT READINGS

WITS STUDENT READINGS At the end of each residency, students share their work with their communities through public readings.

Sharing your poetry, plays, fiction, and comics with friends, family, and community members is a great way to grow as a writer.

WITS coordinated 15 student readings at local cafes, bookstores, galleries, and restaurants: 12 individual school readings as well as readings at Powell’s City of Books, the WITS Fundraiser held at Bluehour, and the Poetry in Motion relaunch ceremony. A total of 208 students shared their work with a total audience of 794.

High School Storytelling The Moth, a nonprofit storytelling troupe from New York, went to Grant High School for a week-long MothSHOP seminar with eight student storytellers.

After working with professional directors all week, the students performed their personal stories for 180 of their classmates.

Our Community Partners Hosted WITS Readings: Annie Bloom’s Books, BiPartisan Cafe, Bluehour Restaurant, Broadway Books, Café au Play, Cathedral Coffee, Independent Publishing Resource Center, Miss Zumstein Bakery & Coffee Shop, Origin’s Coffee, Portland Art Museum, Powell’s Books

Below: A student shares his work at the Franklin High School reading at Café au Play.

“

Sharing your work is a very important part of the process of making it the best.

—STUDENT, WILSON HIGH SCHOOL

”

5

PUBLISHING STUDENTS

WITS STUDENT ANTHOLOGY & CHAPBOOKS Being published is thrilling for writers of any age. Publication provides writers with validation, encouragement, and exposure to a larger audience.

Check out our chapbooks at Literary-Arts.org/ What-We-Do/WITS

Each year, WITS publishes a print anthology and digital chapbooks of exemplary student work created through our residency program. The 2013/2014 WITS anthology, Language Made of Trees, features the work of 65 students.

WITS also published two digital chapbooks featuring the work of 74 additional students. Visit our website to download the chapbooks for free or purchase the anthology for just $10 at literary-arts.org/what-we-do/wits.

Students honored Editors from The Oregonian, Glimmer Train, Burnside Review, and Tin House honored students by selecting their favorite pieces from the print anthology and awarding prizes for poetry and prose.

work 65 students’ featured

What students have to say about the Writers in the Schools residency program:

“

”

I have literary potential.

– STUDENT, GRANT HIGH SCHOOL

“ “ 6

”

Anything can improve with diligent work and practice.

– STUDENT, METROPOLITAN LEARNING CENTER

Writer’s block is just me being afraid to put ideas out there. We have revisions for a reason.

”

– STUDENT, GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL

LITERARY EXPERIENCES

STUDENTS TO THE SCHNITZ AND AUTHOR VISITS Students participated in literary experiences beyond the classroom by attending lectures and engaging with authors. to the Schnitz 986 students

These students attended an author event at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, including the Everybody Reads lecture with Mitchell S. Jackson. WITS provided student tickets to all Portland Arts & Lectures and special events featuring James McBride, Elizabeth Kolbert, Michael Chabon, Ruth Ozeki, and Katherine Boo. served 639 students

WITS coordinated 12 author visits, featuring nationally known writers James McBride, Michael Chabon, Ruth Ozeki, Katherine Boo, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Carmen Bernier-Grand. Throughout her week-long stay in Portland as our first Writer in Residence, Ozeki visited five Film & Literature classes and one Japanese Language & Culture class at Grant High School, where she discussed her work as a filmmaker and novelist.

Public high school students attend each Portland Arts & Lectures event.

donated 539 books

Schools have limited resources to buy books. WITS purchases and delivers books to schools so that students are able to read the authors’ work in preparation for visits and lectures.

Portland Arts & Lectures Writer in Residence Ruth Ozeki with Grant High School librarians.

As part of the Everybody Reads community project, WITS partnered with Multnomah County Library and The Library Foundation to host Mitchell S. Jackson, author of The Residue Years, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Hundreds of students and teachers attended the author event. Jackson also spoke to students at Reynolds High School and Donald E. Long School.

Mitchell S. Jackson reading to students at Donald E. Long School.

7

WITS RESULTS

WITS EVALUATES RESULTS After working with a WITS writer‌

100% 100% 100% 91% 91% 87% 86% 83% 100% 8

of teachers reported that the WITS residency fulfilled the expectations and goals set for student learning.

of teachers agreed or strongly agreed their students are more able to get started on a writing assignment.

of teachers agreed or strongly agreed their students are more able to sustain a writing assignment.

of teachers agreed that their own teaching was enriched and they will use WITS lessons in the future.

of students reported that they usually or always know how to sustain a piece of writing.

of students reported that they usually or always know how to get started writing.

of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that the WITS writer helped students learn new strategies for revision.

of students reported that they usually or always know how to revise their writing.

of parents queried said they believe working with a professional writer has helped their student develop her/his writing skills.

Opposite: Clockwise from the top left: Volunteer mentors visiting with students at Roosevelt High School. James McBride meeting with students and a librarian from Benson High School. Students participating in the WITS residency course at Metropolitan Learning Center. A public reading featuring students published in the 2013-2014 WITS Anthology was held at Powell’s in Downtown Portland on December 9, 2014. WITS teacher and graphic novelist Jonathan Hill teaching a course at Franklin High School.

RESULTS

What parents have to say about their students’ involvement with the WITS program:

“

My daughter absolutely loves it. She enjoys the attention she gets and feels more capable as a writer.

“

She was proud of her essay and shared it with me, which she doesn’t normally do.

— PARENT, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

”

”

— PARENT, CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL 9

COLLEGE READINESS

COLLEGE ESSAY MENTORING HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE WITS trains volunteer mentors to work with students on the essays they need for college and scholarship applications.

89 volunteer 112 students mentors served by WITS coordinated College Essay Writing workshops in collaboration with Franklin High School teacher Susie Bartley. This year, we trained 29 new mentors and had 60 returning mentors.

These volunteer mentors helped 112 students generate ideas and revise drafts of their essays through sessions at Franklin, Benson, Madison, and Roosevelt high schools, as well as the Literary Arts community space in downtown Portland.

One of our mentors works with a student from Roosevelt High School.

“

She helped me edit my essay not just grammatically but also offered me insight on how to expand and strengthen it. She highlighted what I did well, as well as constructively criticized what I need to work on.

– STUDENT, BENSON HIGH SCHOOL

Students and volunteer mentors gathering in the library at Madison High School to work on their college essays.

10

”

VERSELANDIA!

VERSELANDIA! This annual high school poetry slam is presented by Literary Arts in partnership with public high school librarians in Multnomah County, who host poetry slams at their schools.

Verselandia! is the grand slam for winners from individual school slams held in each school’s library.

Verselandia! 2015 was hosted by Turiya Autry, author of Roots, Reality & Rhyme, at the Newmark Theatre on April 20, 2015. The judges were Carla Hopson, Dave Maddocks, Manuel Mateo, Renee Mitchell, and Diane Ponti.

11 high 19 students schools from competed for an audience of parents, teachers, 505 peers, and poetry fans.

This year’s top 5 finalists 1st: Gwen Frost - CLEVELAND HIGHSCHOOL 2nd: Bella Trent - MADISON HIGHSCHOOL 3rd: Sekai Edwards - JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 4th: Quinton Dixon - ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL 5th [tie]: Alexis Cannard & Fiona Murphy -R OOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL & WILSON HIGH SCHOOL RESPECTIVELY

Verselandia! host Turiya Autry posing with the finalists.

Wieden + Kennedy generously sponsored Verselandia! and brought the finalists to their offices in Portland for a day following the competition.

During their time at Wieden + Kennedy, students performed in the atrium for W+K staff, learned about the W+K 12 advertising school, and had lunch at Bluehour restaurant with Dan Wieden.

Verselandia! winner Gwen Frost of Cleveland High School performing on stage at the Newmark Theatre.

11

OUR SUPPORTERS

Support for the Writers in the Schools program is provided in part by:

Autzen Foundation, Mike R. Barr, Kim Bissell, The Bloomfield Family Foundation, The Boeing Company, Boora Architects, Tom & Kristen Boothe, Broadway Books, Susan & Michael Burmeister-Brown, Peggy Busick, Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm, Jan Christensen, The Collins Foundation, Ginnie Cooper, David & Denise Corey, Marian & Neale Creamer, Amy Donohue & Paul McKean, Theodore & Nancy DownesLe Guin, Mark & Ann Edlen, Joan Fondell, Dean & Alison Freed, Bob Geddes, Gretchen Grey-Hatton, Philip S. Harper Foundation, The Bill Healy Foundation, The Holzman Foundation, Inc., Irwin Foundation, Susheela Jayapal, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Stacy Lewis, Phillip M. Margolin, Carol Mayer-Reed & Michael Reed, Richard Meeker & Ellen Rosenblum, Brenda L. Meltebeke & Scott K. Stuart, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, The Nara Fund, Jan Oliva, Amy Prosenjak & Steven Guy, Hilary O’Hollaren, Jon Raymond, Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, Susan Dee Schnitzer Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation, Shirley Skidmore, Kaarin & Van Smith, Herbert A. Templeton Foundation, Victor Trelawny, Trust Management Services, LLC, U.S. Bancorp Foundation, Eric Wallace & Kristi Wallace Knight, Nicholas and Kristin Walrod Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Joe Walsh & Miriam Sontz, Dan Wieden & Priscilla Bernard Wieden,Tom & Marcia Wood, Dr. Candace Young, and many more generous donors, including 139 Portland Arts & Lectures subscribers who, together with NW Natural, raised over $20,000 to Send Students to the Schnitz.

Writers in the Schools Advisory Council Susheela Jayapal, Chair Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm Joan Fondell Diana Gerding Manuel Mateo Ana Muñoz Ramón Pagán Catherine Theriault Kristin Walrod Cindy Williams Gutiérrez Tracey Wyatt Sharon Wynde Public School Librarians Paige Battle Elaine Ferrel Burns Linda Campillo Sandra Childs Fred Fox Kiva Liljequist Bryan Smith Nancy Sullivan Betsy Tighe Public School Principals Petra Callin, Madison High School Carol Campbell, Grant High School

Peyton Chapman, Lincoln High School Brian Chatard, Wilson High School Margaret Calvert, Jefferson High School Paul Cook, Cleveland High School Lorna Fast Buffalo Horse, Alliance High School Filip Hristic, Roosevelt High School John Koch, Gresham High School Macarre Traynham, Metropolitan Learning Center Juanita Valder, Franklin High School Curtis Wilson, Benson High School Public School Teachers Harris Ambinder Amy Ambrosio Susie Bartley Jennifer Bird Mark Bond Matthew Boyer Teresa Brandt Ilsa Bruer Gene Brunak Barry Cochran Stephanie D’Cruz Mykhiel Deych

Kathy Diamond Jacque Dixon Chris Dreyer Zoe Edelen Hare Jennifer Edelson Mary Flamer Daniel Fredgant Jim Gardenhire Alex Gordin Emily Gromko Crystal Hanson Mike Heisler Emily Hensley Keri Hughes Jamie Incorvia Cindy Irby Aimee Jo Irma Johnson Tom Kane Celeste Karzon Nam Kirn Khalsa Crystel Kinnee Tina Kuchinski Andy Kulak Stephen Lambert Dylan Leeman Sarabeth Leitch Eric Levine Morgan McFadden Alethea Mock Desiree Montoya Dave Mylet Julie O’Neill Jenny Owen Eric Pohl

Phillip Rafferty Cesar Ramirez Kris Risher-Spurlock Mary Rodeback Alicia Smith Amy Taramasso Catherine Theriault Erin Tillery Holly Vaughn Edwards Dana Vinger Rachel Wilczewski Amy Wright Anna York Literary Arts Staff Andrew Proctor, Executive Director Amelia Ayrelan Iuvino Amanda Bullock Lydah DeBin Susan Denning Megan Gex Jennifer Gurney Alex Ney Paige O’Rourke Mary Rechner Mel Wells Kyle White

WITS Contractors Hunt Holman Joanna Rose Literary Arts Board of Directors Jessica Mozeico, Chair Betsy Amster Mike Barr Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm Alice Cuprill-Comas Ginnie Cooper Rebecca DeCesaro Amy Donohue Theo Downes-Le Guin Marie Eckert Robert Geddes Karen Karbo John Meadows Deidra Miner Amy Prosenjak Jon Raymond James Reinhart Barry Sanders Pamela Smith Hill Jacqueline Willingham Thomas Wood

925 SW WASHINGTON STREET, PORTLAND, OREGON 97205

literary-arts.org