Writing and Bookmaking -The Telling Room Summer Camp with Jude Marx

At The Telling Room, we empower youth through writing and share their voices with the world. As a literary arts education organization focused on young writers ages 6 to 18, we seek to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for our students. We believe that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for success both now and in the future.

When artist Tanja Hollander approached us about a potential collaboration—it was an easy yes. An opportunity for writing, self-reflection, audience, and creating a bridge with a local artist perfectly aligned with what we value. Our middle and high school summer campers were able to capture their stories through their relics. Whether writing about a bent pin to hold their hijab, or a runner's bib from their first 5K, students dug deep within their drawers and themselves to find the things that would serve as a time capsule of their young lives. Said 16 year-old camper Willow Croce, "I had a lot of fun choosing my items because I have a box filled with small things that hold a lot of meaning to me. It was so interesting to look through the whole box and be able to almost relive some of the experiences in my head." - Sonya Tomlinson, Young Writers and Leaders Program Lead

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