AN EIGHT-WEEK, ONE-ON-ONE SCREENWRITING PROGRAM DEDICATED TO INCREASING LITERACY AND SELF-ESTEEM IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS

The Young Storytellers Foundation offers a uniquely engaging and effective arts education and youth development program to targeted elementary schools in Los Angeles where students are at-risk and have little or no access to the arts. Twice a year at more than 30 schools, our program pairs 10 students from 4th or 5th grade with 10 mentors. The mentors volunteer one lunch hour a week for seven weeks to guide and encourage the students as they imagine and develop their own short screenplay.

In the eighth week, professional Hollywood actors perform the students’ scripts for a live audience. We call these performances the “Big Show” because for the students watching their creation come to life, it is a very big moment.

For kids who normally receive little individualized attention and support, working one-on-one with an adult to create their own story, and seeing actors like Rachel Bilson (The O.C.) Tate Donovan (Damages), Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace), and Kristen Combs (Just Jordan) not only take it seriously, but bring it brilliantly to life for everyone they know, is transformative.

From this experience, children learn that they matter. They see that people value what they have to say. Their communication skills improve. And they discover that attending school and studying can be enjoyable and immensely rewarding.

To see our program in action, please visit:  www.youngstorytellers.com/video