Programs

Inkberry’s programs are many and varied. They currently include community writing workshops, a year-round reading series, a writers’ resource library, The Write Stuff (a reading and writing program geared toward middle school children), and Standing Tall (a writing workshop for survivors of domestic violence and abuse.) We also remain proud of the oral history program we used to run for breast cancer survivors, the various teen ‘zine workshops we’ve run, and the many other terrific programs we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to offer in and around northern Berkshire since 2001.

The Write Stuff

Inkberry, MCLA, North Adams Public Schools, and the North Adams Transcript are partnering to offer this on-going reading and writing program focused on enhancing middle school curriculum through creative writing, service learning, mentorship, and public performance.

The program offers multi-genre creative writing workshops to 6th and 7th graders at Silvio O. Conte Middle School as part of their exploratory arts curriculum, along with MCAS help centered on reading comprehension. MCLA students majoring in English and education, assigned by the college’s Center for Service and Citizenship, are on hand to assist Inkberry-appointed creative writing instructors and to lead reading comprehension sessions during the school day.

Curtis Asch is the writer-in-residence for The Write Stuff program. Each session runs for ten weeks with about 15-20 students per class as part of the Exploratory Arts offerings at Conte. The authors have explored poetry, fiction, playwriting and nonfiction.

So far this year, students have visited MASS MoCA to write poetry in response to the current Kidspace exhibit, and Papyri Books to acquaint them with the local bookstore.

Selected writings from The Write Stuff students will be published by the North Adams Transcript.

Students from Conte Middle School who participate in the program will be given the opportunity to read from their work as part of a Student Authors Celebration, tentatively scheduled for May 2, 2008.

For more information, contact linda@inkberry.org.