YourWords STL

Saint Louis, Missouri

Verified PWI Partner

Our Mission

YourWords STL uses one-on-one tutoring, creative writing workshops, and collaborative writing projects to amplify the voices of St. Louis youth. We believe we can change St. Louis by empowering young people to tell their stories. We are committed to bridging racial, cultural, and economic divides, by honing the ability of people to tell their stories, while providing opportunities for the community to listen.

Who We Are

All of YWSTL’s programming is based on medical research stating that articulating oneself and feeling heard leads to physiological changes in the brain (van der Kolk, 2014, p. 234). Therefore, YWSTL is rooted in the belief that creative writing and one-on-one guidance are powerful tools for positive change. Since 2015, we have published seven chapbooks of student writing, hosted nine community events, and touched the lives of more than 2,000 young people (averaging 180 youth annually).