New South Story Lab founder Virginia Archer, in front, photographed at the Main Library with volunteer mentors Lindsey Duga, Caitlyn Bender and Jeremy Alcanzare. Photo by Jordan Hefler.
Correction: The print version of this article stated that 10 to 15 mentors work with students at New South Story Lab’s sessions. There are actually 10 to 15 students at each session working with 3 to 5 mentors. 225 regrets this error.
THE BOOK OF LIFE
For youths involved in organizations like New South Story Lab, creative mentoring is invaluable—even life changing
There was always something about a blank journal that frightened Virginia Archer.
“Maybe it was the perfectionist in me,” she says, remembering as a child being intimidated to write on the unmarred pages. “I think that’s why teachers have you mark up the cover of your journal: So it’s not pristine anymore. … And who didn’t need one of those speckled composition books to just vent?”
These days, Archer dedicates her time to helping students put pen to blank paper.
She is founder of New South Story Lab, a nonprofit that teaches youth of all ages the art of storytelling. The program offers eight-week writing seminars in the fall, spring and summer, as well as other community programs.
During free Saturday morning sessions at the Main Library, 10 to 15 students are offered writing instruction and constructive criticism on their work by writing mentors. Mentors break down the myth that students are either born brilliant or not—and instead teach them to cultivate their skills. They use the sandwich technique to give feedback.
“You knocked this out of the ballpark, and this is where you need work,” Archer says. “I’m good at playing the clueless reader. I’ll say things like, ‘I’m really interested in this dark part. But I want to know more—why was it dark?’”
Virginia Archer. Photo by Jordan Hefler.
Students are also taught to keep their writing human: Sometimes it is OK to say that you don’t know what to say.
It can be hard for students to find creative guidance in traditional classrooms, Archer says, recalling that she never had her own writing mentor growing up. The closest she came was her high school English teacher, who gave her his reading list. She often rereads those books, classics like Their Eyes Were Watching God and TheArt of War.
“It’s like a lighthouse. Without a mentor, you’re sort of in a big sea,” she says.
Too often, well-meaning advisors can derail youth from creative pursuits that are seen as not lucrative or self-absorbed, she says. Story Lab shows students there are ways to get published and make money. But the bigger focus is teaching them self-awareness and expression.
“Whatever happened to art for the sake of art? Whatever happened to human expression for the sake of human expression? This is our vital need,” Archer says.
At the end of each eight-week session, students power through stage fright to express themselves onstage for a crowd of family and friends.
Some students read their writing, while others perform improv. Readings have been held at Bee Nice Music and the Dyson House Listening Room—environments that are welcoming and warm: There’s clapping and snapping, and “it will blow you away,” Archer says.
Above all, she hopes the students leave feeling empowered. One Story Lab student wrote about how dreadlocks were her “cultural crown”—that essay won a national contest and earned her a full college scholarship.
Story Lab also works with students at a juvenile detention center awaiting trial. Sometimes they write and make crafts. Other classes, they listen to speakers or readings over juice and doughnuts.
“They are so vulnerable and so open, and their need is so great,” Archer says. “They need people to sit down with them and say, ‘You matter.’ Arts can be therapeutic.”
So Archer and the writing mentors are there, sharing their personal reading lists and making sure no one is afraid to write in their notebooks.
“Because if it’s just you and your speckled composition book,” she says, “you’re free.” newsouthstorylab.org
—JENNIFER TORMO
FORWARD ARTS INC.
One of Forward Arts Inc.’s young spoken word performers. Photo by Christopher Diaz / Courtesy Forward Arts.
Teens need an outlet to express themselves. Forward Arts Inc. has proven to not only provide them that safe space, but also allows them to make a name for themselves as artists. Earlier this year, the literary arts organization’s poetry team won the 2017 Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival—quite an impressive award on a young person’s resume. The organization serves 3,000 area youths through arts instruction, literary education and youth development. Under the direction of qualified instructors, it fosters personal and social growth in students at 25 local public middle and high schools. forwardarts.org
THE FUTURES FUND
The Futures Fund program prepares teens to enter the workforce, offering them instruction from professionals in the fields of coding and photography. In addition to its current visual and digital arts instruction, The Futures Fund will soon provide training in performance and literary arts, too. By putting its students face-to-face with local professionals, the group allows youth to gain the confidence and skills they’ll need to succeed in their future careers. thefuturesfund.org
DEBOSE ARTS
DeBose Arts partners with local schools to offer literary, visual and performing arts education as well as exhibition and performance opportunities. The foundation works to help aspiring young musicians, dancers, actors, visual artists and poets grow. debosefineartsseries-competition.com
KIDS’ ORCHESTRA
Kids’ Orchestra offers the largest after-school music program for K-5 students in the United States. About 800 students from across the parish partake in its instrument, ensemble and chorus instruction. The organization also offers tutoring and homework help to its students. kidsorchestra.org
MANSHIP THEATRE
You might consider Manship Theatre a venue for intimate concerts or performances by other local arts groups, but the staff also provides lots of arts education programs. With school performances, film screenings and even dance lessons, Manship aims to bring the arts to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. manshiptheatre.org
—ELIZABETH MACKE
Click here to read about all the other arts in the area.
This article was originally published in the November 2017 issue of 225 magazine.
