Mission
THE TELLING ROOM IS A LITERARY ARTS EDUCATION NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH WRITING AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WORLD. FOCUSED ON MAINE YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12, EACH YEAR WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH 1,800 STUDENTS ACROSS OUR 12 AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL-BASED CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMS, PUBLISHING 300 AUTHORS IN ACCLAIMED TELLING ROOM BOOKS AND REACHING ANOTHER 700 YOUTH THROUGH OUR AUTHOR EVENTS. WE PROVIDE THE TIME, SPACE, KNOWLEDGE, AND GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTICE CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DEVELOP CRUCIAL LITERACY SKILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE ALSO BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG THEIR PEERS AND CONNECTING TO THE WIDER WORLD. ALL OUR CORE PROGRAMS ARE 100% FREE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS HELPING ENSURE EQUITABLE ARTS EDUCATION ACCESS. OUR EVALUATIONS REGULARLY SHOW THAT AT LEAST 90% OF STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR WRITING ENTHUSIASM, BUILD SKILLS, AND GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE.