The Young Writers Network (YWN) connects WCYA’s alumni community to the children and teens least likely to meet real authors. Working with nonprofit partners in Boston, New York, and northern New England, YWN authors lead workshops for students at schools and community programs in areas where creative writing resources are scarce or otherwise out of reach.

YWN’s goals include creating more equitable access to writing instruction for kids and fostering the growth of a more diverse community of authors. Hundreds of children in underserved populations have been encouraged and inspired through author visits and writing workshops in the first two years alone. The network continues to expand along with the growing VCFA alumni community.

Thanks to a $10,000 Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, YWN was able to provide even more exciting programming this winter and spring. Most recently, VCFA alumni, faculty, and other teaching artists reached young writers in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, rural Vermont and New Hampshire, and new immigrant students in Portland, Maine. Read all about it in the latest newsletter!

You can learn more about the mission and work of the VCFA Young Writers Network at https://vcfa.edu/youngwriters. Follow along on Twitter or sign up for the newsletter to keep up with the latest news!