Writers Matter

Empowering Voices, Transforming Lives–One Story at a Time.

Our Mission

Writers Matter’s mission is to assist educators in creating and sustaining learning environments that inspire and encourage students to share their voices. These educators are active members of a vibrant learning/teaching community which offers support and also encourages sharing of educational philosophies and methods.

Through journaling and other forms of personal communication, students are offered multiple opportunities to express their personal ideas, concerns, hopes and dreams through free writing and other forms of expression, to share their efforts with their peers, and to listen and respond to other students’ work with respect, tolerance and understanding.  With its emphasis on developing and improving students’ writing skills and abilities to express and share their thoughts with clarity and empathy, Writers Matter activities support and enhance each school’s stated educational goals, performance and behavioral objectives, and subject-related benchmarks and standards.

Our Mission in Practice

Working with students of all backgrounds from grades 3-9.

Over 20,000 students served since 2005.

Utilizing research-based teaching methods.

OUR VISION

The Writers Matter Program was established to inspire and motivate middle school students to enhance their writing skills through personal expression. Through research-backed teaching strategies, we have observed the emergence of a nurturing learning environment, strengthened teacher-student relationships, and more effective approaches to classroom management. To learn more about our mission, unique approach, and on-the-ground work, click the button below to watch the Writers Matter Documentary.

Writers Matter Documentary
What We Do
This program is the single most effective vehicle for engaging students in the classroom. Not only does the work promote tolerance and understanding among adolescents, it creates an atmosphere and culture of compassion and understanding. When teens feel empowered to use and share their voice their lives change. In the meantime, they become better writers.
— Francesca Cantarini, 8th grade teacher

OUR STUDENTS

Our students come from a diverse range of backgrounds, neighborhoods, and contexts. Through work alongside our partner schools, we have developed a program that speaks to each student in an extraordinary way ~ by giving students the space and tools to speak powerfully and openly about their own experiences. To see our students’ incredible work, click the button below or follow us on social media.

Check out our resources and projects below

Resources for Teachers
Our Students’ Work

IN THE NEWS

‘Voiceless’ concert with Mt. Airy rapper and poet (2023 - Chestnut Hill Local)

Philly hip-hop artist helps students find their voce with “Writers Matter” program
(2023 - ABC 6 Action News)

Black Lives Matter movement inspires Philly students’ writing
(2020 - WHYY)

NEWSROOM

At C.W. Henry, learning is a community effort (2019 - The Philadelphia Tribune)

Thank you for your interest in our pursuit to change lives through the transformative power of writing. We welcome you to fill out the form below to contact us with any questions or register for our newsletter. You can also find our donation page below.

Donate

Contact us.

Email us at lewinski@lasalle.edu, or fill out the adjacent form.