September Community Outreach
When I first stepped into Project Write Now at age 16, I did not yet realize how deeply writing could connect people. What began as a summer internship soon became one of the most transformative experiences of my life—one that taught me not just how to write, but how to lead, listen, and build community through creativity.
As a Teaching Assistant intern, I led Teen Writing Space, a weekly creative writing program for teens ages 14 to 18. Each session felt like entering a shared heartbeat. Different voices, styles, and stories all pulsing in the same room. My job was to guide discussion, encourage risk-taking in writing, and make sure every teen felt heard. But in truth, I learned just as much from them. Watching someone share a vulnerable piece for the first time reminded me how powerful it is to create a safe space where words matter.
That summer culminated in Kaleidoscope: Ink & Identity, an open mic event during which teens shared their writing with the community. I helped decorate, welcome guests, and—for the very first time—read my own poetry at the mic. It was the first time I truly felt part of something larger than myself: a movement of young writers using language to shape identity, emotion, and connection.
After the internship, I wanted to keep that momentum alive. When I became a Teen Ambassador for Project Write Now, I continued leading Teen Writing Space, this time over Zoom. Even virtually, our group found ways to connect. I offered feedback, shared my work, and watched others grow more confident with each session. The space became a constant in my life—a reminder that creativity thrives even through screens and distance.
But I did not want to stop there. I wanted to build more opportunities for teens to create together, so I launched two new programs: Teen Free Write and Write & Reverie. Teen Free Write was a weekly writing accountability group: simple, relaxed, and open. We wrote in silence, shared in snippets, and left feeling lighter. Write & Reverie, on the other hand, was a dream realized. Hosted in partnership with Over the Moon Art Studios in Asbury Park, it became a teen networking event for local creatives. I reached out to community organizations, coordinated logistics, and was a hostess for the evening. That night, tables were filled with writers, artists, and local changemakers, including the Asbury Park Public Library, 2nd Floor Youth Helpline of 180 Turning Lives Around, and local author Nikki Nordquist. The evening ended with an open mic where nearly every participant shared their original work.
Standing there, surrounded by the hum of creative energy, I realized that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room—it is about giving others the space to find theirs.
Throughout my time with Project Write Now, I also volunteered for larger community storytelling events such as Sound Bytes: Stories & Food for the Soul, which was part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival, held at The Salvation Army in Asbury Park, and Firefly: Stories Out Loud at Two River Theater. In each experience, I saw how storytelling builds bridges between generations, communities, and identities.
Being a Teen Ambassador for Project Write Now has taught me that writing is never just about words on a page; it’s about conveying a message that resonates. It is about connection, courage, and the willingness to show up for others. I have learned that a single poem can spark a conversation, and a single voice can create a ripple that reaches far beyond the page.
And for me, that is exactly what writing—and life—are all about.
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