WriteGirl Works!
100% of WriteGirl Core Mentoring Program girls have graduated from high school and gone on to college!
WriteGirl Seeks Women Writers to Volunteer. Apply today.
Volunteer and mentor training is held in September and October, 2015
Every fall, WriteGirl holds volunteer training sessions to welcome new mentors to the program. If you are interested in volunteering for WriteGirl in any capacity, please fill out an application and join us. We'll have food, writing activities, and lots of information about how you can get involved. At the training session, you will learn specific techniques for mentoring teen girls.
Download Application here (PDF)
See below how to apply
One-on-One Mentoring
As a one-on-one mentor, you will meet with your mentee weekly at a coffee shop, community center or library convenient to her. Sessions usually last about an hour, and are entirely focused on writing. We will provide you with a wide variety of writing ‘experiments’ (‘exercises’ sound too much like work!) at your initial training and at every workshop throughout the season (October – June) for you to try with your mentee. We will also equip you with plenty of tools and skills to be an effective writing mentor to a girl, helping her to find her voice, put her creative ideas on paper and present her work in public. Together, you will both learn about new writing genres, as well as develop your communication and critical thinking skills.
One-on-one weekly mentors are accepted and matched by WriteGirl’s Mentoring Advisors after reviewing applicants’ expertise, experience, availability and other relevant information. Matching of pairs usually takes place at our monthly workshops, when both partners are present.
WriteGirl provides ongoing training and support for all mentors to help make the most of these rewarding partnerships.
While we realize that one-on-one mentoring requires a significant commitment, we ask all mentors to also participate on one of our volunteer teams as well, even in some small capacity. We’ve found that involvement on a team is the best way for you to get to know other members, and also for us to get to know you – that’s the “community” part of WriteGirl!
By the way, if the commitment of weekly mentoring is not for you, we always need one-on-one mentors at our monthly workshops and seminars.
What if you don’t live in Los Angeles?
If you share the goals of WriteGirl but are not currently living in Los Angeles, you may be able to find a local mentoring organization where you could volunteer by visiting www.mentoring.org
HOW TO APPLY
1. Download and read our volunteering information sheet here (PDF)
2. Fill out PDF application here. Email it with your resume and two writing samples (5 pages max.) to volunteer@writegirl.org
In addition to the application, please email your resume and two writing samples (any length, any genre) within the body of an email to volunteer@writegirl.org. These do not need to be published creative writing samples – we just need to know that you have competent writing skills, since that’s what we’re all about! Feel free to send samples of your business, marketing writing or even personal journal entries.
WriteGirl will respond to your application within a few weeks.
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
TRAINING: All volunteers are required to attend one training/orientation. Once we review your application, we will contact you about an upcoming training session. You'll have a chance to learn more about WriteGirl's goals and needs, meet the leadership, gain some specific communication skills, and get answers to your burning questions.
TIME: We ask you to commit to attend WriteGirl's Monthly Workshops, held on Saturdays, 11:00-4:00 pm. In addition, we ask you to contribute at least three hours each month to help support our activities, behind the scenes.
PARTICIPATION: All activities, whether highly visible or completely behind-the-scenes, directly impact the women and girls of WriteGirl and the quality of their experience. We ask all members to participate on one of our volunteer teams. There will be more information about the teams and activities at the training/orientation session. We'll do our best to match your skills, interests and availability with our needs.
COMMUNICATION: We ask our volunteers for clear and regular communication with our leadership, other volunteers, and our girls.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
We are a lean, hard-working, enthusiastic, supportive, hearts-on-our-sleeves group. You can expect tenacious and frequent communication from our leadership. We will do our best to offer you a rewarding experience volunteering with WriteGirl. We're all about helping girls and women cultivate their creative voices, and we're glad you decided to apply to join us.
Thank you!
