At a time when texting is the most common form of writing for many young people, and the dominant image of urban youth is one of being “at risk” for violence, drugs and educational failure, the West side Writing Project (WWP), stands out as a powerful model for reaching and teaching our next generation of thinkers and doers. WWP is a youth enrichment program that works to improve the overall commu
nication skills of area youth by helping students develop an interest in media and journalism. Through a series of workshops, students work to compose their own newsletters, video podcasts and gain exposure in the use of digital media. Launched in 2007 on Chicago’s West Side as an after-school program by founding Executive Director Frank Latin, the largely volunteer initiative uses writing and digital media as tools for personal transformation and civic engagement. Through its local news show, podcasts, and website, WWP provides a unique youth voice on the issues facing not only our young people, but our city and our nation as a whole. Students have researched and completed projects on important issues such as:
Food Deserts * Education Reform
Youth Unemployment * Gun Violence
Political Corruption * Health Disparities
Expanded Offerings
WWP recently expanded its program offerings to provide more media related experiences to area youth. Today WWP operates year-round and includes summer, after school, in-school and weekend programs for area students at multiple locations that encompass:
Writing workshops * Digital media workshops
Broadcast News Program * Script Writing/Short Films
