User:Sweh/StudioSTL

StudioSTL Characterized by its creativity and enthusiasm, StudioSTL partners St. Louis writers, artists, and educators with area youth to discover, develop and celebrate their individual voices through the development of writing skills. The charitable organization's writing programs are based on the belief that a literary toolbox and writing skills are indispensable lifelong gifts.

Paving the Way
Modeled after Dave Eggers' popular 826 Valencia in San Francisco, StudioSTL was formed in 2005 by seven St. Louis area professionals. After its 2005 formation, StudioSTL continues to grow under the guiding eye of Director Elizabeth Ketcher and its Board of Directors. Strategic alliances allow StudioSTL to maintain a loyal and diverse volunteer base, a community writing studio, and collaborative partnerships that permit the organization to access and serve youth, while marketing its acclaimed publications.

The written works of the StudioSTL young authors are published in high-quality books as part of the organization's established publishing enterprise. The revenue earned from the sale of the publications funds additional youth writing programs. StudioSTL has helped hundreds of St. Louis-area youth find their individual voice in books, magazines, and newspapers, earning a solid reputation - locally and nationally - as a leader in writers' programs.

In 2008, StudioSTL entered the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition at Washington University in St. Louis. The 8-month long competition is sponsored by Wash U's Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. After competing in several rounds with 24 other teams, StudioSTL won the $35,000 YouthBridge Award. This milestone enables StudioSTL to put their plans to grow into action.

Programs
Magazines

Books

Workshops

Publications
Through StudioSTL's free writing programs, area students have become published authors.

Anthology II: The Story Lies Behind the Eyes is the most recent StudioSTL publication, making its debut to the public in May 2009. This compilation of poems, songs, and short stories is the work of American Literature students at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy in St. Louis. Educators Andrew Gallagher and Staci Christian worked with StudioSTL's Christian Schaeffer to create an environment that enabled the students to write pieces ranging from simple stories to complex poems of love, loss, and friendship. St. Louis citizen Ernie Isley of the The Isley Brothers penned the forward and spoke at the books premiere party.

How My Life Has Been Since I Got Older is a book of poetry and reflection written by seventh grade students from Curtis Bishop Middle School. Guided by the Teach for America teacher Matt Picard and StudioSTL mentors, students were able to set aside awkwardness and uncertainty to write about changes in their life.

Anthology I: Self-Portraits is compiled of self-portraits written by students of Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and University City High School. Published in November 2007, Anthology I was the first StudioSTL publication to open its readers eyes to a first-hand account of the students' struggles to balance adult issues such gang violence and homelessness while trying to succeed in school and life.

Happenings
In addition to coordinating unique and educational writing programs for students of all ages, StudioSTL puts on outstanding events annually.

WordFest, commonly known as the Olympics of Word Games, passed its torch for the first time in January 2009. This annual game night for a cause was created to bring together the StudioSTL community in a fun way that encompasses the organization. The competitive one-night fest consists of tournaments in Boggle, Bananagrams, Scattergories, Word Finds, Word Scrambles, Taboo, Crosswords, WordDarts, and Team Trivia.

StudioSTL is also a proud celebrator of National Punctuation Day on September 24th. Annually, volunteers organize a punctuation-themed happy hour to raise funds for free writing programs.

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