Who We Are

Write Out is an afterschool program that partners with community centers across Syracuse to get youth excited about storytelling. In our writing workshops, students explore topics of self-expression and personal experience—themes that are often overlooked in the school system but are vitally important. By taking an active role in youth development, Write Out seeks to create a community of writers that are confident in sharing their own stories—on their own terms—and to encourage students to write across languages and modes of meaning-making.

Since we first launched in 2020, Write Out has partnered with teachers, artists, and community leaders from the North Side Learning Center, Girls Inc. at the YWCA, La Casita Cultural Center, MercyWorks, the Museum of Science and Technology, and more. Each year, our afterschool programming culminates in a published chapbook of student work, for which we host a launch party and a public reading to further encourage our students to see themselves as thinkers, writers, and leaders. 

Write Out

Write Out

Roles at Write Out

  • Our directors of programming are the point people responsible for Write Out’s operations at each of our community sites. They are responsible for:

    • Working for and with community sites to develop responsive programming

    • Facilitating team of writing mentors for weekly programming

    • Planning curriculum overview and organizing team’s curriculum delivery, including emailing community site contacts and facilitators the lesson plan at least five hours in advance of a session

    • Overseeing the project of at least one SOURCE undergraduate research assistant

    • Holding a brief review session after each lesson

    • Coordinating with other directors of programming across sites

    • Working with Write Out’s publication team on end-of-semester readings and publications

  • Our writing mentors are the backbone of Write Out programming, working with our students in weekly programming at our community sites. They are responsible for:

    • Attending weekly programming at their assigned community site

    • Working flexibly with students to encourage their self-confidence and self-expression

    • Preparing and delivering regular activities for their site

    • Offering feedback on other mentors’ proposed activities

  • Our peer writing mentor program is designed to help activate older students as leaders at their sites. Peer writing mentors are responsible for:

    • Attending weekly programming at their assigned community site

    • Working flexibly with students to encourage their self-confidence and self-expression

    • Preparing and delivering regular activities for their site

    • Offering feedback on other mentors’ proposed activities

  • Our research assistants are vital for Write Out programming and evaluation, working with our students in weekly programming at our community sites. Their responsibilities can vary depending upon what grants they’re receiving funding from, but they are always responsible for:

    • Creating and leading at least one lesson plan for the site that they’re based out

    • Revising their lesson plans with feedback from Write Out members and the site lead

    • Engaging with the students either creatively or through asking questions about their day/interests

    • Working flexibly with students to encourage their self-confidence and self-expression

    • Adapting to fit the different needs of the sites and spaces that they’re occupying

    • Attending weekly programming and being punctual barring any emergency situations