45th Annual Summer Teen Writing Workshop
Celebrating the 2025 Summer Writing Workshop:
Youth Advocacy in Action
The Summer Writing Workshop at Youth Communication is a time for storytelling, mentorship, and building skills to share your voice and story. Our writers had the opportunity to connect with incredible leaders, advocates, and storytellers who inspired them to share their voices and think boldly about the world around them.
We are deeply grateful to all of the organizations and individuals who partnered with us this summer, including:
• Erickson “E.B.” Blakney & The Pinkerton Foundation – sharing insights on journalism, credibility, and the craft of writing.
• Amy Schumer – inspiring writers to embrace vulnerability, honesty, and creative risk in their work.
• Jimmie Briggs – facilitating conversations about empathy, identity, and the transformative power of youth voice.
• NYPL & Teen Voices Festival partners – celebrating creativity and providing spaces for teens to express themselves.
• NYC Council Member Rita Joseph – encouraging young people to use their voices to lead and create change in their communities.
• Bank of India – equipping writers with financial literacy skills to plan and take control of their futures.
• Child Welfare Fund & Susan Baer – connecting with storytellers and supporting healthy youth development.
• YC alumna Cheyanne Deopersaud – demonstrating how youth voices can influence policy, advocacy, and systemic change.
Each visit and collaboration reinforced YC’s mission to amplify youth voices, providing our writers with the skills, confidence, and support they need to share their stories and drive meaningful change. From workshops to one-on-one conversations, this summer reminded us of the power of community, mentorship, and storytelling to shape the next generation of writers, leaders, and changemakers.
We are thrilled to share these moments with you through photos, reels, and highlights, and to celebrate the incredible support of our partners who make this work possible. Together, we are helping young people craft their stories and shape brighter futures.