Writers in the Community (WiC) is a collaborative community outreach program run by the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF). It began as a one-day event in 2003 and now presents up to 20 ten-week workshops a year in partnership with schools, community organizations, and group facilities in the province of Quebec. Most of the young people we work with are aged 14 to 24, and fall into one of these groups:
- Teens in youth protection
- Teens with behavioural difficulties and/or social maladjustments
- Teens with learning disabilities
- Teens living in neighbourhoods with economic and social challenges
- Young single mothers (ages 15 to 24)
WiC pairs small groups of these youth with a professional writer or literary performance artist to provide them with a positive role model who can teach and motivate them to use language to express themselves in productive ways. The goal is to help participants improve their prospects in life by giving them opportunities and guidance to:
- improve their literacy and writing skills
- learn the value of staying the course, by completing a cooperative group project
- give and receive constructive feedback in a positive way
- take pride in their work, presenting it to friends, family, and members of their school or group home community
- be more reflective and channel their emotions into productive and creative work.
In each project, a writer-facilitator works with a group for 10 weeks, giving them language tools, boosting their self- confidence, and showing them that they are capable of producing something of value. The facilitator presents a stimulating
They glowed with pride on Poetry Reading day. At
Comment from WIC writer-facilitator reportfirst they were very nervous, but as they got going reading each other’s poems as well as their own, they just continued taking turns until they almost ran out of poems. I truly believe that after all these years of struggling with any writing assignment given in class they finally produced a zine full of poems and writing that they were truly proud of and wanted to show off.
Activities and Outcomes
Participants are exposed to literary activities that motivate and engage them, extend their appreciation of literary expression, produce tangible products, develop new skills, foster pride in their accomplishments, and connect them to the literary community. We have seen participants in this program improve their skills in writing and using language, and gain
The results have been gratifying:
- One young woman who had dropped out of school was inspired by our workshops to
re-enrol . - A teacher has reported improved attention span and desire to write among her class of learning-disabled students.
- A teacher of troubled young women has reported generally improved behaviour in the classroom.
- A residential unit for single teen mothers now uses written reflections as a way for the women to process their experiences and difficulties.
- Several participants have had their poetry published in the Montreal Review of Books or carte blanche.
- One young woman enrolled in a creative writing program at CEGEP.
- One young woman went on to create poems for CBC Radio.
- Two boys wrote and produced a hip hop video that received thousands of web hits and was the subject of a TV news report.
Program Manager
Sarah Haggard has been the program manager of Writers in the Community (WIC) since 2007. A graduate in Intellectual History and Italian, Sarah began her career in book publishing and production, first in the UK and Italy and now in Montreal. Latterly, she has focussed her energies on managing programs, projects, and events for cultural and community organizations such as the British Council, Centre for Literacy of Quebec (now closed), Blue Metropolis Literary Festival, and English-language Arts Network. She has seen the WIC program grow from a handful of workshops a year in just two venues to an active roster of projects, employing up to 15 writers annually in over a dozen community organizations. She is constantly reminded of the value of giving young people a chance to explore their feelings and ideas through writing and considers it a privilege to work with talented writers whose creativity and commitment are at the heart of the WIC program’s success.
I feel like writing this poetry really allowed me to look deep into my soul, and find out what kind of person I truely am
young writer
Through the various activities, I realized that within me there was a poet that I did not know existed. I now have a great appreciation for poetry.
young writer
The workshop has brought up my inner poet and showed me how to express myself in ways I didin’t imagine. And I appreciate Larissa for doing so.
young author
I feel like the poems helped me get over some hard stuff in my life.
young author
It exposed the kids to a form of writing they had not explored. It was creative and the kids loved that aspect, I think it helped build their confidence, especially reluctant
teacher, at Harrington Harbour - Cycle 2 & 3writers, because Angela always pointed out what was good with their writing.
I can’t imagine a greater example of success than when during our launch one student, almost thinking aloud, asked me how he could continue to write and publish his work while he was in trade school next year. He is interested in writing and wants to continue to pursue it; he clearly is benefitting and getting the most out of these workshops. He even read a poem in front of the school during their annual Christmas party. If a student makes the choice to continue his education that is success.
writer-facilitator
Media
QWF Seeks Writers to Design & Facilitate Workshops for “Writers in the Community” Program
Application Deadline: November 5, 2021 The Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) is looking for one or two new writer-facilitators to join our “Writers in the Community” team. All work is on a contract basis, and cannot be guaranteed for any … More info Read more
Read moreCall for Applications
QWF Seeks Writers & Spoken Word Artists to Design & Facilitate Workshops for “Writers in the Community” Program Application Deadline: July 10, 2020 The Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) is looking for one or two new writer-facilitators to join our … More info Read more
Read moreAppeal: Suitcases for Batshaw
We launched the ‘Suitcases for Batshaw’ appeal last summer, and were thrilled with your generosity and response. Can we do it again this year? If you’re coming to the end of the summer and looking at a mound of … More info Read more
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Want to be a part of making a powerful impact on young lives?
Contact us to become a Writers in the Community partner or sponsor
Program sponsors
We would also like to express our gratitude to the following sponsors, without whom the Writers in the Community program would not be possible
