2015 2016 YOUTH PROGRAMS
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS AND WRITERS
Literary Arts’ Youth Programs inspire public high school students to write, revise, edit, publish, and perform their own writing through:
• Semester-long creative writing residencies through Writers in the Schools (see page 4)
• Student publication in print and digital chapbooks (see page 6)
• Students to the Schnitz program and author visits (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 Literary Arts’ Youth Programs because they believe the programs:
• Increase student engagement with reading and writing
• Teach students new tools for becoming stronger writers
• Help students read and write a range of texts in a variety of ways
• Build community around literature
• Contribute to student achievement in reading and writing
Former U.S. Poet Laureate and 2016 Stone Award recipient Rita Dove visits Roosevelt High School.
A SNAPSHOT
11 Public High Schools participated in semester-long residencies taught by professional writers
33 Teachers learned new strategies to teach writing
25 Local Writers shared their expertise with youth
4,000
43 Classes worked with a writer
12 School Librarians held poetry slams at their schools to prepare for Verselandia!
+ STUDENTS SERVED
20
136 were mentored by community members at college essay writing tutorials held at Benson, Franklin, Madison, and Roosevelt High Schools
1,076 attended an author event at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
56
354
18 participated in the Verselandia! poetry slam attended student readings attended slam poetry classes at Literary Arts
768
1,101 participated in semester-long residencies
9
were mentored individually and in small groups by writers
173 participated in author visits to schools shared their work at student readings
496 attended comic and slam poetry workshops at Wordstock: Portland’s Book Festival attended Verselandia!
WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS RESIDENCIES
Residencies are creative writing workshops tailored to meet the unique needs of each teacher and class.
The core of Literary Arts’ Youth Programs is semester-long Writers in the Schools (WITS) 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. In addition, students get the opportunity to experiment with new creative ideas and techniques. 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. Teachers need to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) each year to maintain licensure; in 2015-2016, 108 educators earned 1,168 PDUs by participating in the youth programs of Literary Arts.
WITS served 15 new-to-WITS teachers, demonstrating our commitment to reach new teachers each year.
WITS hired 25 writers: 18 returning writers to maintain program stability and 6 new-to-the-program writers. As part of our commitment to build a roster of teaching artists that reflects the rich diversity of Multnomah County’s schools, we seek writers from all of our various communities.
1,101 students participated in semester-long residencies.
“ Students were much more engaged in the class. They wanted to write. One student, near the end of the residency, told me that she couldn’t stop thinking in poetry. ”
—CRYSTAL HANSON, TEACHER, GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL
WITS Writer Lisa Eisenberg leads a residency at Wilson High School.
“ My daughter is confronting her stage fright tonight and developing the love of writing. This is great!”
—PARENT, GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL
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 16 student readings at local cafes, bookstores, galleries, and restaurants. This includes 11 individual school readings, as well as readings at Wordstock: Portland’s Book Festival, the WITS Fundraiser held at Bluehour, and slam poetry open mics at Literary Arts’ downtown center. A total of 191 students shared their work with a total audience of 868 youth and adults.
Our community partners hosted WITS readings: Annie Bloom’s Books, BiPartisan Café, Bluehour Restaurant, Broadway Books, Cathedral Coffee, Independent Publishing Resource Center, Miss Zumstein Bakery & Coffee Shop, Origin’s Coffee, Portland Art Museum
Slam Poetry Classes @ Literary Arts and the St. Johns Public Library
Eighteen students attended slam poetry workshops taught by local spoken word artists Alex Dang, Leanne Grabel, and Jacque Dixon. As a culminating activity, students shared their poems during public readings.
Madison High School student shares her work at a WITS residency reading at Bipartisan Café.
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.
Each year, WITS publishes a print anthology and digital chapbooks of exemplary student work created through our residency program. The 2014/2015 WITS anthology, Off Center, features the work of 82 students. WITS also published a digital chapbook, Exploring the Depths, featuring the work of 52 additional students. Visit our website at literary-arts.org/what-we-do/wits to purchase the anthology for just $10 and download the chapbook for free.
Students honored
Editors from Glimmer Train and Burnside Review honored students by selecting their favorite pieces from the print anthology and awarding prizes for poetry and prose.
Featured student poem from Off Center
(page 34), inspired by “Border Crossings” by Betty Laduke, on display at the Portland Art Museum:
82 students’ work featured
Author Ella Stewart Lincoln High School
WITS writer Amy Minato
Freedom
The sun smiles down on their reaching arms. Faces turned upward, they dream. By them, their children watch— by them, their children dream. They see birds fly overhead, free, so the people hug their children to their chests, and with them step into a new land. And as they walk towards the heart of this land, their children, too, grow feathers.
STUDENTS TO THE SCHNITZ AND AUTHOR VISITS
Students participated in literary experiences beyond the classroom by attending lectures and engaging with authors.
1076 students to the Schnitz
These students attended an author event at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, including the Everybody Reads lecture with Cristina Henríquez. Our Youth Programs provided student tickets to all Portland Arts & Lectures and special events featuring Jane Smiley, Anthony Doerr, Adam Gopnik, Robin Coste Lewis, Mohsin Hamid, and Phil Knight.
768 attended Q&A sessions
Our Youth Programs coordinated 12 author visits to schools featuring nationally known writers Jane Smiley, Anthony Doerr, Adam Gopnik, Mohsin Hamid, Bruce George, Jessica Mehta, Cristina Henríquez, 2016 Stone Award recipient Rita Dove, and Phil Knight.
535 books donated
Our Youth Programs purchased books from Powell’s and Broadway Books for students to read in preparation for author visits and lectures.
Centennial High School student asks author Cristina Henríquez about her novel The Book of Unknown Americans
As part of the Everybody Reads community project, WITS partnered with Multnomah County Library and The Library Foundation to host Cristina Henríquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Hundreds of students and teachers attended the author event. Henríquez also spoke to students at Centennial and Roosevelt High Schools.
Author Bruce George visit Benson High School.
Author Cristina Henríquez visits Roosevelt High School.
WITS EVALUATES RESULTS
After working with a WITS writer…
100% of teachers reported student engagement with reading and writing increased.
93% of teachers reported an increased feeling of community in their classes.
88% of teachers agreed their students are more able to sustain a writing assignment.
88% of teachers agreed that their own teaching was enriched and they will use WITS lessons in the future.
88% of students reported that they know more ways to get started writing.
84% of students reported that they know more ways to sustain a piece of writing.
83% of students reported that they know more ways to revise their writing.
90% of students agreed working with a writer gave them the opportunity to experiment with creative new ideas and techniques.
95% of parents queried said they believed working with a professional writer helped their student develop her/his writing skills.
Opposite page, clockwise from the right: Student performers at the annual WITS luncheon fundraiser. Benson High School student shares his writing at a WITS end of residency reading. WITS Writer Cooper Lee Bombardier talks with student during a residency at Grant High School.
“ It was one of the greatest opportunities that I’ve had in my life. I like writing and never got a chance to work with someone who was good and professional at writing. Now I feel good about my writing and I think I can be a good writer if I work hard, which I never thought before.” (Cleveland HS)
Students describe how working with a professional writer changed
“ Having a working professional writer in our class made me more excited to write. Because every time she came, we learned even more skills on how to elaborate on our stories and write even better. I am glad we had this opportunity.” (Wilson HS)
“ It allowed me to explore other creative styles that I hadn’t thought about before. I also got to make a form of art, which is a plus and it made me more excited to come to class. I didn’t like poetry before, but now I love it!” (Grant HS)
“ After working with a professional writer, I am able to write like I’ve never before, in which I can write out everything that I think of and be creative. It changed my life.” (Benson HS)
COLLEGE ESSAY MENTORING PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE
We train volunteer mentors to work with students on their essays for college and scholarship applications.
136 students served by
76 volunteer mentors
Literary Arts’ Youth Programs coordinated College Essay Writing workshops in collaboration with local public high school teachers. This year, we trained 21 new mentors and had 55 returning mentors. These volunteer mentors helped 136 students generate ideas and revise drafts of their essays for college admissions and scholarships through events at Benson, Franklin, Madison, and Roosevelt High Schools, as well as two Saturday drop-in sessions at the Literary Arts center in downtown Portland.
“ I was able to talk my thoughts out and organize the information I had. My mentor provided me a different view to answer the essay questions.”
– STUDENT, BENSON HIGH SCHOOL
Benson High School student discusses her essay with a mentor.
Mentoring session at Roosevelt High School.
VERSELANDIA!
This annual high school poetry slam is presented by Literary Arts in partnership with public high school librarians, who each host poetry slams at their schools. Verselandia! is the grand slam for winners from individual school slams.
Verselandia! 2016 was hosted by Anis Mojgani, a twotime National Poetry Slam champion and author of three poetry collections, at the Newmark Theatre on April 18, 2016. The judges were Alex Dang, Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith, Chabre Vickers, Stacey Villalobos, and Dan Wieden.
This year’s top 5 finalists
1st: Teá Johnson, - GRANT HIGH SCHOOL
2nd: Lily Lamadrid - FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL
3rd: Alexis Cannard - ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL
4th [tie]: Zoe Stuckless & Maia Abbruzzese
- WILSON HIGH SCHOOL & LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, RESPECTIVELY
Wieden + Kennedy generously sponsored Verselandia! and invited the finalists to their offices in Portland. 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 with Dan Wieden.
20 students from
763 peers, parents, teachers, and poetry fans. 12 high schools performed for an audience of
2016 Verselandia! contestants.
2016 Verselandia! winner Teá Johnson of Grant High School.
Support for our Youth Programs
Autzen Foundation, Mike R. Barr, Kim & Daniel Bissell, The Bloomfield Family Foundation, The Boeing Company, Tom & Kristen Boothe, Bora Architects, Broadway Books, Susan & Michael Burmeister-Brown, Jan Christensen, The Collins Foundation, Ginnie Cooper, Betsy Cramer, Marian Creamer, Amy Donohue & Paul McKean, Theodore & Nancy Downes-Le Guin, Roberta Dyer, Ann & Mark Edlen Family, Joan Fondell, Bob Geddes, Diana Gerding, Julie Harrelson, Susan Hathaway-Marxer & Larry Marxer, Tom & Betsy Henning, Herbert A. Templeton Foundation, Irwin Foundation, Juan Young Trust, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Carter & Jennifer MacNichol, Phillip M. Margolin, Carol Mayer-Reed & Michael Reed, Richard Meeker & Ellen Rosenblum, Susan Mersereau, Jessica Mozeico, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Ernie Munch, Jan & Steve Oliva, Philip S. Harper Foundation, Andrew & Veronica Proctor, Amy Prosenjak & Steven Guy, Jon Raymond, Robert D. and Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust, Carol Schnitzer Lewis, Lori Singer, Kaarin & Van Smith, Miriam Sontz & Joseph Walsh, U.S. Bancorp Foundation, Kristin & Nick Walrod, Jackie & William Willingham, Tom & Marcia Wood, Dr. Candace Young, Morton & Audrey Zalutsky
Public School
Librarians
Paige Battle
Linda Campillo
Sandra Childs
Kiva Liljequist
Leigh Morlock
Julie Morris
Bryan Smith
Nancy Sullivan
Ann Stinson
Stephanie Thomas 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
Lorna Fast Buffalo Horse, Alliance High School
Filip Hristic, Roosevelt High School
Pam Joyner, Metropolitan Learning Center
John Koch, Gresham High School
Tammy O’Neill, Cleveland High School
Molly Ouche, Parkrose High School
Juanita Valder, Franklin High School
Curtis Wilson, Benson High School
Public School
Teachers
Amy Ambrosio
Jody Adams
Noelle Allen
Andrea Binder
Jennifer Bird
Robert Bizjak
Scott Blevins
Mark Bond
Teresa Brandt
Nora Brooks
Ilsa Bruer
Gene Brunak
Zandra Ah Choy-Agusen
John Carr
Stephanie D’Cruz
Deanna Delgado
Mykhiel Deych
Jacque Dixon
Mary Flamer
Stefanie Goldbloom
Kelly Gomes
Alex Gordin
Kelly Greblo
Katie Grone
Crystal Hanson
Shawnte Hines
Crystel Kinnee
Dylan Leeman
Eric Levine
Sunshine M. McFaulAmadoro
Alethea Work
Mercedes Muñoz
Dave Mylet
Nicola Onnis
Nathan Pier
Eric Pohl
Phillip Rafferty
Cesar Ramirez
Kara Rhodes
Tina Roberts
Mary Rodeback
Tory Rodgers
Clair Roix
Ed Sage
Alicia Smith
Chris Smith
Kris Spurlock
Jamie Suehiro
Shawn Swanson
Amy Taramasso
Trevor Todd
Joe Vermeire
Dana Vigner
Megan Whisnand
Writers in the Schools Advisory Council
Ginnie Cooper, Chair
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Joan Fondell
Ann-Derrick Gaillot
Diana Gerding
Susheela Jayapal
Jenny MacNichol
Manuel Mateo
Ramón Pagán
Catherine Theriault
Kristin Walrod
Cindy Williams
Gutiérrez
Stephanie Wong Ken
Tracey Wyatt
Sharon Wynde
Literary Arts Staff
Andrew Proctor, Executive Director
Amanda Bullock
Lydah DeBin
Megan Gex
Jennifer Gurney
Hunt Holman
Ramiza Koya
Marshall Miller
Susan Moore
Alex Ney
Paige O’Rourke
Mary Rechner
Joanna Rose
Mel Wells
Kyle White
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