A Blog of Seattle Arts & Lectures
by Gabriela Denise Frank Throughout time, the powers of poets have been hailed as nothing short of mystical. Poets are seers and oracles. They treat with gods, muses, ghosts. Their carefully crafted lines conjure images that, to readers and listeners, incarnate ephemeral ideas into forms solid enough to see and touch—at least by the mind. […]
by Gabriela Denise Frank “If you’re going to have to figure out new things, artists are a good group to be with,” Alicia Craven, SAL’s Director of Education, noted. “They’re inventive, creative, and open to seeing possibilities that a more linear thinking pattern might not allow for.” Alicia was speaking about her colleagues—the cohort of […]
By Gabriela Denise Frank Writing serves many purposes for Writers in the Schools (WITS) Intern Akshaya Ajith. “It’s a tool and a gateway for people to connect and to understand and open doors to mutual respect,” she said. “Writing can be an exploration, but it can also be like going into battle, whether that’s with […]
By Gabriela Denise Frank Talking with the writer Kip Greenthal who, with SAL Founder Sherry Prowda, launched the Writers in the Schools (WITS) program, brought to mind a quote by Grace Paley: “Every story is two stories. The one on the surface and the one bubbling beneath. The climax is when they collide.” In pop […]
Our next featured WITS Writer-in-Residence for the “Faces of WITS” series is Arianne True. Not only does Arianne teach at Hamilton International Middle School, Licton Springs K-8 School, and Nathan Hale High School, Arianne is also one of the Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program mentors—check out this interview for more info. This fall, Arianne is […]
Those interviews you’ve read on the SAL blog that start with a beautiful reflection, then flow into a conversation about SAL’s biome of writing and reading? The person behind those blog pieces is Gabriela Denise Frank. Often called ‘the interviewer extraordinaire’ by the SAL team, Gabriela is the asker and the stitcher, drawing out the […]
Not only do WITS Writers-in-Residence work with students in public schools across Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region—they’re also placed in the school at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where they work with young patients who are writing about their experiences and becoming the author of their own lives. Ann Teplick is a poet, playwright, and […]
Our WITS Writers-in-Residence work with students across public schools in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region to provide new tools, perspectives, and attention to students to help them develop and express lifelong literacy skills. WITS Writers also connect and inspire teachers, invigorate teacher practices, and help make our public schools as vibrant and creative […]
The ability to express oneself clearly, with strength and beauty, is essential to creating change. With each classroom visit, our WITS Writers-in-Residence—working with students across public schools in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region—provide new tools, perspectives, and attention to students to help them develop and express these lifelong literacy skills. WITS Writers also […]