Literacy in Motion

The Writers’ Exchange is the brainchild of former editors Sarah Maitland and Jennifer MacLeod. In 2010, Maitland interned in San Francisco at 826 Valencia, started by writer Dave Eggers to enhance literacy among American school kids. Upon her return, Maitland ran literacy programs for kids in East Vancouver before opening the KidSafe Writers’ Room program in September 2011. An old classroom at Queen Alexandra Elementary was transformed into a safe space where kids could drop in after school to complete homework and creative writing projects with volunteers. In the summer of 2012, MacLeod came on board, and the program also became a project of Tides Canada Initiatives and was renamed the Writers’ Exchange. Now, over 200 Vancouver WE volunteers help the inner-city kids embrace words at their location at 881 East Hastings Street as well as through programs held at their home school (from Montecristo Magazine). The WE mission is to get inner-city kids excited about reading, writing and their own potential. Every year over 700 inner-city kids complete creative literacy projects and receive individualized attention from volunteer mentors to boost their reading, writing and self-confidence. All Writers' Exchange programs are FREE for the kids, youth and families they serve.
>> Read "The Writers’ Exchange - Literacy in motion" by Isabel Nanton on Montecristo Magazine
>> Watch Dave Eggers' TED Talk: My wish: Once Upon a School