Classes

• What is your teaching philosophy?
• What kinds of writing will a young woman do during your program?
• What does a typical class schedule look like?
• What content is covered during the program? How age appropriate is it?
• What writing skills do you work on with participants? Will my daughter be a better writer after your program?
• Who teaches the classes? What are their qualifications?

Logistics

• How many participants are in each class? What is the teacher/student ratio?
• Where are on-site YWWC classes held?
• Can I drop off my daughter early for class or pick her up after class ends?
• Does my daughter need to pack a lunch for her summer weeklong camp?

Registration

• How do I register for a class?
• What is the tuition for a class? What does that cover?
• Do you offer financial assistance? How can I apply?
• My daughter is younger (or older) than the class I think would be most appropriate for her. How can I best determine which class she should take when she’s “in between”? 

Get Involved

• How can I become more involved in this organization?

Classes

What is your program's teaching philosophy?

Our creative writing classes strengthen girls’ inherent creativity and self-knowledge without relying on competitive feedback. Girls and young women experience increased self-esteem due to their participation at YWWC. They learn to trust their own voices. They develop confidence in what they have to say. They learn how to connect with others through writing and develop friendships based upon honesty and encouragement.

We do not provide direct writing "instruction" in our programs; instead, we practice writing together, we do writing exercises, art that inspires our writing, lots of sharing in small groups and in the large group, and a lot of learning around how to support ourselves and support each other as writers. This includes learning how to ask for and give feedback on writing; we do not give criticism or blind praise to each other. Instead, we teach a process of deep listening that really helps girls feel "heard."

What kinds of writing will a young woman do during your program?

We include prompts and activities that inspire all genres of writing--journal entries, poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, dialogue, monologue, song-writing, performance poetry, and anything else you can imagine. We do not limit the form that any young woman's writing takes; we do provide examples of various genres to inspire writers. Our hope is that by the end of her experience, a girl in our programs will have tried something new in her writing, which often means trying a poem if she writes mostly fiction, or writing a monologue when she mostly writes in her journal. Any young woman is encouraged to experiment but is never forced to write in a way that does not feel authentic to her. 

What does a typical class schedule look like?

At the beginning of each class, writers will receive an agenda for the class so that they can follow along with the schedule, writing prompts, and reminders.

The daily agenda varies among programs based on class length. During the Summer, full-day programs offer more writing time and more time for an additional art project or perhaps for reading an inspiring book together. Click here and here to see some sample class agendas. 

What content is covered during the program? How age appropriate is it?

All YWWC programs are organized around a central theme developed by the teaching team in response to current events, trends in the previous semester's YWWC class, or developmental needs of the girls and young women. Examples of past themes include "Being Real," "Re-defining Barbie," "Telling the Truth," and "Creating and Maintaining Healthy Friendships."

There is no set "curriculum" for any YWWC programs--all programs use our unique processes to provide a safe space for all participants in which they can listen and be heard. Poems and texts shared by faculty during the program are carefully chosen with the age range of participants in mind. As the faculty gets to know the developmental needs of the class participants, they choose future readings and writing prompts accordingly.

During all YWWC programs, participants are placed in "small groups" to share and receive feedback on their writing. On the first day of the program, girls are placed in groups of 3 or 4 participants based upon similar ages and grade levels. Each small group also has a faculty facilitator to help the group focus on deep listening and on supporting each writer. In these groupings, girls get to connect to other girls their own age so that they can deepen their understanding and their friendships with each other.

What writing skills do you work on with participants?Will my daughter be a better writer after your program?

We do not provide direct writing "instruction" in our programs; instead, girls are supported in their writing with writing prompts, conversations about writing and about being a young woman, creating art that inspires our writing, and participating in a “small group” of three or four peers where they can share their writing out loud and be heard.

Rather than teaching specific writing skills, we offer model texts to participants to show them strong writing “in action.” We used the words of great thinkers and published poets of all ages on our daily agendas. Our teachers read their writing aloud as inspiration for the girls own writing; we bring in “guest artists” who further inspire us by sharing their art form with us. When young women share their words inspired by all of these sources, we find that young women “pick up” or “try out” specific skills, techniques, or patterns in their own writing. This “cross-pollination” of skills and inspiration creates an environment rich with language and creativity.

After participating in our program, we hope that our participants can more easily express themselves on paper, have better access to their creativity, feel comfortable trying new forms of writing, and feel more confident in their voices.

Who teaches the classes? What are their qualifications?

All YWWC programs are facilitated by experienced writers and teachers who have themselves participated in Women Writing for (a) Change adult writing classes. Many of the YWWC faculty are certified teachers and educators at local schools and colleges.

We are especially proud of our mutigenerational/intergenerational faculty, which includes includes former YWWC participants who have recently graduated from college, women who began participating in Women Writing for (a) Change classes soon after their own college graduations, and mothers of young women who have participated in YWWC programs. To learn more about individual faculty members, click here.

In addition to adult teachers, “Teen Assistants” also co-teach YWWC onsite and some Outreach programs. These high school and college-aged young women have completed the Young Women’s Feminist Leadership Academy training, where they learn to facilitate YWWC classes and create their own Outreach programs, which they facilitate as part of their hands-on training. Teen Assistants serve as the “bridge” between the young participants and the adult teachers and serve as role models for young women who dream of becoming leaders themselves.

Logistics

How many participants are in each class? What is the teacher/student ratio?

Our girls’ programs typically have around 18 participants plus four teachers: two adult faculty members and two trained teen assistants. So the ratio is at least 4 or 5 participants per teacher.

Where are on-site YWWC classes held?

All on-site classes are held at Women Writing for (a) Change, 6906 Plainfield Rd. in the “heart” of Silverton. Map and directions

Can I drop off my daughter early for class or pick her up after class ends?

Teachers are available to supervise participants 15 minutes before and after class ends. On the first day of class, participants will receive a class roster. This may be useful in setting up carpools. If someone other than a parent will be picking up your child, please be sure to let a teacher know this on the first day of class. You can also leave a message at 791-4057 x 3.

Does my daughter need to pack a lunch for her summer week-long camp?

At all YWWC programs, a healthy snack will be provided the first time the class meets. At that meeting, participants will sign up to bring a snack or drinks to share at the remaining sessions. Check our list of snack ideas!

Summer Full-day Programs ONLY: In addition to bringing a snack once during the week, your daughter will need to bring her lunch everyday. We have a refrigerator to store food and drinks.

Registration

How do I register my daughter for a class?

Online:  Download a registration form here, print and mail it in with your deposit. The tuition balance must be paid the first day of class. At this time, we are unable to accept credit cards for payment.

Over the phone: Call 272-1171 to speak with Bron, our registrar and then send in a check for the $75 non-refundable deposit or a check for the full tuition amount payable to Women Writing for (a) Change Foundation. Our mailing address is 6906 Plainfield Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236.

To pay a balance due:If you have paid the $75 registration, you will need to pay the balance of tuition no later than the first day of class. You may bring a check with you to class that first day or you may pay the balance with a credit card by visiting our registration page prior to the first class. Please note that we cannot take credit card information over the phone or in person.

What is the tuition for a class? What does that cover?

The tuition for a Young Women Writing for (a) Change program varies depending on the number and length of class meetings. Our 2008-2009 tuition costs are:

Full-day writing week (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm) $315

Half-day writing week (Monday-Friday, 9am-12:30pm) $225

Tuition does not fully cover the expense of running a program. Women Writing for (a) Change Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and we receive grants and donations to support our on-site classes for young women and girls. To learn more about our donors or to find out how you can support our work as a volunteer, program sponsor, or donor, click here, contact us at 513-272-1171 or use our Contact form.

Do you offer financial assistance? How can I apply?

Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships to girls, young women, and women who are interested in participating in our writing programs. Click here to learn more about the scholarship application process as well as qualifications. Completed scholarship applications should be sent to Women Writing for (a) Change Foundation, 6906 Plainfield Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of a class. You will receive notification once the Scholarship Committee has met to review all applications.

My daughter is younger (or older) than the class I think would be most appropriate for her. How can I best determine which class she should take when she’s “in between”?

We hear this question all the time and usually respond by saying, “You know your daughter best.” However, from our experience, we have noticed that it is much more difficult for a younger participant to move into an older age group than it is for an older participant to move into a younger age group. Our choice of age groupings is not based on writing skills but on developmental growth. The young women in our program often write about their own lives and experiences; someone younger or older than the age-group might feel left out, confused, or even silenced when she doesn’t hear others in the group whose experiences resonate with hers. Therefore, we recommend that it is best to place your daughter in the age-appropriate group.

How can I become more involved in this organization?

We have many opportunities for you to support the words of women and girls. Young Women Writing for (a) Change programs are part of  Women Writing for (a) Change Foundation, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to widen the accessibility of the Women Writing for (a) Change Experience through scholarships, outreach initiatives, and writing and leadership programs for girls and young women.

To learn more about our donors or to find out how you can support our work as a volunteer, program sponsor, or donor, click here, contact us at 513-272-1171 or use our Contact form.