Rewriting the Wild: Storytelling Pathways for Emerging Creatives

Access to tech and creative industry employment

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Cultural narratives shape how people see the world and, subsequently, who gets to be heard in it. From media to policy, the stories we tell influence everything from environmental decisions to public attitudes about identity, power, and place. The dominant voices in publishing and environmental storytelling still reflect a narrow lens that often excludes the lived experiences of underrepresented communities and reinforces outdated or harmful narratives.
This imbalance limits whose stories are told and how we imagine solutions to problems we face. When students and emerging writers do not see their realities reflected or respected in creative spaces, it sends a message about whose perspectives matter. At the same time, cultural myths about nature, wildlife, and people continue to drive misunderstanding and division. We need more than new stories, we need new storytellers with the freedom and support to write without compromise.

Rewriting the Wild is a storytelling and publication initiative that empowers college students and emerging writers to challenge dominant environmental and cultural narratives, notably ones that have excluded or misrepresented certain voices or lived experiences, through creative writing. Our workshops support skill development and career access in literary sectors through open discussions and writing exercises, where participants explore how storytelling shapes public perceptions, particularly in contexts involving nature, identity, and conflict.
Selected works are published in The Revision, our annual anthology that brings fresh perspectives to the forefront of environmental and cultural dialogue. Funding will be used to ensure equitable access through free workshops to underserved institutions and communities, and fee waivers for individuals historically underrepresented. Additionally, increased outreach to these communities will ensure participation reflects the diversity of Los Angeles County. In prioritizing equity and creative exploration, Rewriting the Wild supports individual writers and contributes to a broader shift in who gets to shape the stories that influence public attitudes and policy.

If Rewriting the Wild is successful, Los Angeles County will see more diverse voices shaping the stories that influence culture, policy, and public understanding of the natural world. Emerging writers, especially those from historically excluded communities, will have greater access to creative development, peer networks, and publication opportunities that can launch careers and shift narratives. Over time, the county will benefit from a literary landscape that is more inclusive, reflective of its people, and capable of imagining solutions that speak to the realities of the changing world.