Unleash the Author in You: Rewrite Your Story

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Long Beach South Bay LAUSD (select only if you have a district-wide partnership) County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) Gateway Cities

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Systems-impacted youth—those navigating foster care, probation, or other systems—are often defined by what’s happened to them instead of what’s possible for them. The focus is on their trauma, not their talent. They carry real pain, but also powerful potential. We’ve seen firsthand how a safe, creative space can shift everything. When young people are given tools to process, write, and tell their stories—on their terms—it builds confidence, literacy, emotional strength, and hope. The issue we’re addressing is the lack of culturally relevant, healing-centered programs that help youth reclaim authorship of their lives, not just academically but emotionally. This work is about helping them believe: “I can do anything.” And then showing them exactly how—through side-by-side support, writing guidance, and real-world tools that turn their story into something powerful, published, and full of purpose.

Unleash the Author in You: Rewrite Your Story is a hands-on, culturally relevant writing program that promotes authorship, literacy, healing, critical thinking, and an “I can do anything” mindset. It’s more than lessons—it’s mentorship, creative guidance, and a safe space for systems-impacted youth ages 12–18 to process their stories and rewrite their future. Each participant receives our custom interactive workbook, which walks them through story structure, character, plot, and visual storytelling. In sessions 1–7, they explore the writing process. In sessions 8–11, they create a 10-page illustrated book using their lived experience and imagination. Our team then turns their journals into real, hardcover books. In sessions 12–13, youth receive their books, reflect, and prepare for a powerful book launch where they’ll be honored as authors. This grant will support 3 cohorts (20 youth per cohort), reaching 60 unduplicated youth (780 duplicated contacts). We’ve facilitated earlier versions in two LAUSD schools, but this new edition goes deeper—supporting students to not just tell the story they’ve lived, but to write the one they want to live next. And it doesn’t stop there—the book launch brings in families, community members, and stakeholders, creating a ripple of pride and possibility far beyond the classroom.

This program has already changed lives—and now we’re reimagining it to go even deeper. In a time when hope feels out of reach for many young people—especially those impacted by systems—this work gives them something powerful: belief. Through authorship, reflection, and community celebration, they discover that they can do anything. And the impact goes far beyond 60 youth. It’s 780 touchpoints. It’s 60 new books. It’s hundreds of siblings, mentors, and school communities reading and being inspired. It’s 60 full families feeling proud, connected, and empowered. For some, it may even unlock long-term income through publishing. Our vision is to expand this across LA County—scaling the workbook, training more facilitators, and giving every youth who needs it the chance to own their story, change their future, and spark something bigger than themselves.