Write Your Summer: WriteGirl Season-End Celebration 2022

“Today, we will write, we will share, we will learn, we will dance, we will reflect, we will laugh and we will map out our own super special summer of writing,” said WriteGirl Executive Director Keren Taylor during the opening remarks of the annual WriteGirl Season-End Celebration on June 25, 2022. “Because, while this is a celebration and wrap up of the end of our 21st season, it is also the beginning of Season 22!”

Over 100 WriteGirl mentees, alums and volunteers, not to mention four special guest writers and performers, gathered together online at the WriteGirl Season-End Celebration to mark the end of WriteGirl Season 21! With inspiration station breakout rooms, writing activities, collaboration walls, panels, videos and special performances, this was a multi-media, jam-packed celebration!

During the first portion of the event, mentees had the chance to participate in “Inspiration Hangout” breakout rooms, where they discussed where they turn to or what they do for inspiration. From spending time outdoors to reading the work of writers they love, teens got a list of ideas for new inspiration outlets! 

Screenwriter Clare Sera

Special guest and screenwriter Clare Sera, Small Foot writer, starring Channing Tatum and Zendaya, then led attendees through an improv fiction experiment. Drawing on her superb acting skills, she played a character who spoke in gibberish and instructed mentees to write the story they thought she was telling.  

“Reminder, you should be writing as I’m talking,” Sera said before beginning the exercise. “Just write whatever story comes to mind.”

Thanks to Clare’s guidance, the Zoom chat flooded with inspiring short story snapshots from mentees: 

“I wrote about a giant stumbling into a village and befriending a family of knights,” said WriteGirl mentee Eva.

“It was about a woman who was telling a story about a woman who danced around a flame in the deep night,” added WriteGirl mentee Carley. 

Songwriter Janice Robinson

Next, attendees heard from a star-studded panel on the subject of creativity and inspiration. Panelists included special guest and songwriter Janice Robinson, volunteer Deanna Barnert, and alum Sofía Aguilar.

“I always check in with myself,” Robinson said in response to a question about how she starts and keeps writing.  “I get a lot of clarity having an honest conversation with myself.” 

Aguilar shared her strategies to kickstart her creativity: “Whether it’s books or music I love, I like to go outside myself to stoke my inner fire.”

To close out the panel, Robinson offered much-needed advice to our mentees: “Sit down. Listen to your heart. Little to your inner voice. Go inward. Quiet down the outside noise.” 

LA Youth Poet Laureate Finalist Shandela Contreras

After a brief break, the second portion of the event kicked off with a stunning performance from poet and LA Youth Poet Laureate finalist Shandela Contreras as she read her poem, “The Campfire story leads the broken to home.” 

“How do I

How do I give heaven to those who were fed saltine crackers 

before they could taste what epiphany felt

like on their tongue.”

The event also featured a special tribute to our graduating seniors, with a virtual confetti throw and special messages from our volunteers encouraging them to follow their curiosity, lean into their support systems, write a lot and dream big.

Toward the end of the event, attendees also heard from the 2022 LA Youth Poet Laureate and friend of WriteGirl Salome Agbaroji, who wowed with her own poetry performance:

2022 LA Youth Poet Laureate Salome Agbaroji

“Accept the bliss, manifest,

And bless it

With the heart in the 

Palm of your hands.”

Suffice to say, there were many (virtual!) hugs, heartwarming moments and expressions of emotions from mentees and volunteers alike during our Threads portion, when attendees write what they liked, learned, or loved about the event in the Zoom chat: 

“I loved seeing all the strong women,” said WriteGirl mentee Mari.

“What I loved about WriteGirl was hearing girls and women like me with such a passion for  language,” said WriteGirl mentee Kate. “It gave me a hope for the future of women in literature. Seeing young women who were once in my shoes become such iconic symbols of feminism today made me feel so so wonderful.”

We are so grateful for the WriteGirl community – Season 21 wouldn’t be the same without you!