Student voices shine through Seattle Arts & Lectures program

Since 1994, the Seattle Arts & Lectures Writers in the Schools (WITS) program has reached over 100,000 students.

WITS brings professional writers into classrooms to help student writers find their voices and hone their skills.

Each year, the program reaches thousands of students around Puget Sound.

WITS Year-End Reading and Celebration took place at the Broadway Performance Hall on May 30. KUOW’s Sonya Harris recorded the readings. WITS Program Director Alicia Craven served as moderator.

The youth writers featured at this event included: Giovanni Mireles, Lesley Torres, Natalia Feu, Lucia Young, Gianni S. Johnson, Ava Cook, Yaqqiyrah Yishmael, Gilbert John, Danita Egboh, Justice Hall, Real Leavens, Pitisi Mateaki, Brian Sanchez, Mariama Sheikh, Miles Stevens, Lila Elsberry, Dylan Kelly, Lydia Ganz, Akshaya Ajith, Mordecai Brown, Charlotte Calero, Mia Saunders, Meg Wickersham, Katherine Boatman, Jorge Cruz Grijalva, Katt Tibbs, R. Blackbird and Lola Johnson.

The WITS mentors featured are: Maiah Merino, Matt Gano, Naa Akua, Ramon Isao, Sierra Nelson, Daemond Arrindell, Christy Lee Barnes, Leititia Cain, Laura Gamache, Jourdan Keith, Rachel Kessler, Gary Lilley, Raúl Sánchez, Arianne True and Corinne Manning.