Writopia Lab

History

Writopia Lab is a 501c3 creative writing workshop [1] for kids and teens ages 6-17 and language play for kids ages 3-4. Founded in 2007 by Rebecca Wallace-Segall, it follows the workshop model, each session is lead by a published writer trained in Writopia's method and has a maximum of 6 students in the workshop. Writopia promotes a student centered methodology, where each student sets his or her own goals, and is encouraged to finish a full piece of writing by the end of the workshop session. Writopia also promotes comfortability with technology, using laptops and the cloud to store all student work. The Writopia method incorporates community outreach through free writing workshops offered in the New York Public Library. While most Writopia students attend workshop within our locations throughout the boroughs, students can also attend workshops in the Edenwald Branch, the 115th Street Branch, the Throg's Neck Library, and the Clason's Point Library [2]. Students experience further community outreach when showcasing their work at readings in local libraries and bookstores. Writopia also runs the Worldwide Plays Festival, a week of student written plays, produced, directed and acted by theatre professionals.

As of 2013, Writopia students have been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards more than any other school in the nation. It is also now a national community, with branches in Westchester, Washington DC, Long Island and Los Angeles.

Writopia's mission

1) Provide young people with the creative inspiration and intellectual environment that may not be available to them at school. 2) To help each student become comfortable with expressing him or herself on paper and to ultimately cultivate (or maintain) a love of writing in each of them. 3) Create and sustain a diverse community of young writers who find commonalities in a shared passion for ideas and expression. 4) Offer discounted or waived fees to at least 40% of workshop participants. 5) Provide an open, safe, and nurturing space for young people who are highly engaged in creative and intellectual endeavors. 6) Provide an open, safe, and nurturing space for young people who struggle with verbal and written expression. 7) Identify ways that creative youth who struggle academically can use their gifts to further their academic success.

Writopia Lab

Writopia Lab

History

Writopia's mission

References

External links