A home for young writers
Our Mission
We create a community of support for Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) students through in-school, after-school, and summer programs that build literacy and communication skills.
Our creative writing programs work toward racial and economic equity, breaking the cycle of multi-generational low literacy by giving students a smaller, more participatory setting to immerse themselves in reading and writing.
By empowering the voices of BCPS students, we help them transition from middle school to high school, complete high school, and enter higher education and/or career-oriented employment.
Our Vision
The core principle of WBS is the belief that the communal study and practice of creative writing equips students with the tools necessary for meaningful self-reflection and, in turn, self-expression.
Through our programs, students come to see themselves as writers whose work is worthy of being heard and celebrated. Students get in touch with who they are and what they think and feel, empowering them to make positive change in their classrooms, communities, and beyond.
Our History
WBS was founded in 2008 to provide BCPS students with an opportunity to hone their reading and writing skills. With experienced writers and instructors, and in spaces where they can express themselves authentically, students learn about different modes of writing, such as poetry, fiction, journalism, and essays. Students produce their own work, publishing it in our literary magazines, as well as mainstream publications, and performing at open mics.
Teachers foster wellbeing through trauma-informed social/emotional skills building and self-expression and collaborative strategies, acting as essential guides to create a safe and supportive environment for students to explore and thrive.
Many students join WBS while attending Title 1 middle schools that have among the lowest standardized test scores in BCPS and then go on to attend the most competitive public high schools in the city.
