What We Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We also share our resources<\/a> for supporting those programs with interested educators and students. Please contact us<\/a> if you are an educator, student, or community member interested in connecting to resources or programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story Workshops<\/strong><\/a> bring volunteers into high school English classrooms to encourage and support student storytellers. These volunteer listeners include adults from the community (active professionals, retirees), recent high school graduates who have participated in Story Works, and also older students from within the school. Participants workshop stories in small groups and can then opt to share their story with their full class. The stories that emerge from these workshops offer opportunities for learning and connection between peers and community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n College Essay Workshops<\/a><\/strong> offer free, out-of-school and\/or in-school support to students developing college admissions essays. Participating students attend workshops on essay development and are matched with volunteers (journalists, writers, editors, former English teachers etc.) who offer support and encouragement during this challenging and high stakes process. Recent Story Works participants are now also involved in these workshops, providing neer-peer support and encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story Circles<\/a> <\/strong>(developed in partnership with The Alaska Humanities Forum<\/a> and a team of Story Works alums during the COVID-19 pandemic) offer an opportunity for people to gather together to listen and share thoughts and stories related to a common theme. These trauma-sensitive, connection-building, hour-long gatherings are led by youth facilitators (all recent or current high school students who have participated in Story Works’ programs) and supported by Story Works staff. Participants do not need to prepare anything and have the option to share or simply listen to others. To learn more and to inquire about a Story Circle for your organization, school, or other group, please contact us here<\/a>. Note that while each Story Circle is small (6-10 people), Story Works can accommodate larger groups in simultaneous groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Youth4Change<\/strong><\/a> launched in summer 2020 in collaboration with BIPOC youth and community partners. Youth4Change is a group of BIPOC youth (ages 14-24) interested in addressing systemic racism, particularly within our schools. Please click here<\/a> to learn more and get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SAYiT (The Story Works Alaska Youth Team)<\/a><\/strong> is a group of Story Works alums (many of them also involved in the programs above) who meet outside of school time to plan and conduct projects to support youth stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First launched in January 2015, SAYiT has since:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were founded to share the growing energy around storytelling in our community with the young people in our schools. And we continue to grow in response to the power of the young people and their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our workshops offer young people and teachers a chance to receive additional support from community volunteers while constructing meaning through stories. They also offer schools and communities a way to value, support, and listen to the voices of young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of 2020, our in-person workshops have occurred primarily in the communities of Anchorage and Unalakleet, Alaska. However, our Story and College Essay lessons and materials have been used by educators as far away as New York and Texas. Participants from across Alaska and the US have participated in these online programs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our physical location is in Bartlett High School (1101 Golden Bear Dr., Anchorage, Alaska), home of the Golden Bears. Go Bartlett Bears!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also host free College Essay Workshops on evenings and weekends at our office and with community partners such as Bartlett High School<\/a>, the Anchorage Museum<\/a>, TRIO\/Upward Bound<\/a>, and CIRI<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Youth leaders working with Story Works also meet outside of school to plan events, produce podcasts, and manage other projects. If you are a current or recent high school student or interested in joining SAYiT<\/a> (the Story Works Alaska Youth Team), becoming a Story Circles Facilitator<\/a>, or participating in Anti-racism work with Youth4Change<\/a> please message us on Instagram (@storyworksak) or email us at info@storyworksak.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since Story Works began (way back in February 2014), over 3,000 high school students (and a handful of middle school students) have participated in our workshops. These students include Anchorage-area students from Polaris, West, East, Service, Bartlett, Steller, and Dimond High Schools along with students in grades 8-12 in the community of Unalakleet, Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although participants have the choice to opt out (and write an essay or share to a small group), more than 99% choose to share their stories aloud –with volunteers, teachers, and each other. Stories have been shared in classrooms, in hallways, in stairwells, and on school stages. And even beyond school walls, at Arctic Entries<\/a> events –in front of audiences of up to 1,500 people– and at other community-wide events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story Works student storytellers from Anchorage\u2019s West and Dimond High Schools have also been featured on the Alaska Teen Media Institute\u2019s<\/a> youth radio show, In Other News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus this project would not be possible without our board<\/a>, staff<\/a>, co-founders,<\/a> and another 100+ volunteers and 15+ partner-teachers \u2013all of whom have contributed countless hours towards supporting students and their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrograms:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why We Do It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where We Are<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who We Are<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Want to hear stories from students? Listen here.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Everyone Else<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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