september community outreach

As we celebrate our SEVEN-year anniversary, we also celebrate all of the writing—the creative stories, poems, personal essays, reflections—that have been generated by our children, teen, and adult writers.

There are so many reasons our students write. Many do it as a form of creative expression, giving themselves a space to be introspective. Others are working through strong emotions and using it as a therapeutic outlet. Some are capturing their personal histories not only for themselves but also for their loved ones. Others are seeking to publish and develop their author voice and style.

No matter the reason, we know that writing is more than putting ideas to paper. Writing helps people become aware of their own abilities and strengths. It enhances resilience, improves moods, and increases coping skills. Writing really is a SUPER POWER!

And when writing is shared, it builds community as we realize we are not alone in our emotions and experiences. This is essential for all of us but especially for our youth, who are dealing with unprecedented levels of depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.

So this month as we round the corner into our eighth year, we would like to share some of the writing that has made us feel connected to one another. Below are some of our favorite lines from our most recent issue of Bridge Ink, our online young adult literary journal.

Bridge Ink was imagined by our 7th and 8th grade Red Bank Middle School students five years ago. They wanted a place to not only share their writing but also welcome voices from outside the Red Bank area.

One of our students, J., came up with the name Bridge Ink because our studio space is located on Bridge Avenue in Red Bank. He also said that when you say “Bridge Ink” super fast, it sounds like “Bridging,” which is what writing and sharing our stories does. It bridges people.

Volume 5, Issue 4, includes pieces from GERMANY(!), California, Washington, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and of course, New Jersey. If you know a young writer (ages 13-18) who would like to share their stories, they can submit to Bridge Ink by emailing bridgeinkeditors@gmail.com or submit a video for our special “Off The Page” Spoken Word video contest. 

Please enjoy the excerpts below. Click on each image to read the entire piece.