Scared Heart middle schoolers pose for the camera.
One of my favorite places in the Nick Virgilio Writers’ House is what we’ve affectionately deemed the ‘comfy room’ on the second floor. Right about 4pm, when our after school programs are in full swing, the early setting sun will hit the white curtains at just the right angle, and no matter what’s going on—story time, quiet journaling, or an impromptu dance party—the room feels so perfectly full of creative joy that it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the life taking place within these four walls.
It’s one space we’ve used regularly for all of our programs over the past year and a half, but it’s not the only one by any means. On any given afternoon, you’ll find students curled up with a good book on the downstairs couches, snacking by the kitchen, or using the smart board to examine their ongoing photojournalism projects. Sometimes our students will get so enthusiastic (read: loud!) about their work that I’ll need to remind them that Warren is just upstairs, diligently bringing together new programs for the NVHA.
In the new year, we’ve expanded our own offerings to reach a much wider number of students. Throughout the spring, we’ll have teenagers working on college applications, toddlers learning to spell out their names, and middle school girls creating vision boards based on role models they’d like to emulate. We’ll have new students stopping by for drop-in tutoring and learning about the space, and twice a month, we’ll welcome all families to join us for mindfulness and writing programs based on their histories and traditions.
Last fall, we had workshops on poetry and mindful journaling, which culminated in a widely attended showcase at the Fireworks Gallery. This winter, students will focus on their areas of personal expertise by making How-To booklets and videos, showcasing their talents for the world to see. And for what it’s worth, we’re more than just fun—the academy program has the track record to prove it, with 87% of students scoring proficient or higher in grade level writing, and 81% of parents noting great or steady improvement in their child’s writing. For students who continue in the program through high school, we track a 100% graduation rate and 97% college acceptance.
I was never able to meet Nick Virgilio myself, but in conversations with members of the board and friends of the NVHA, I can’t help but think that the happy chaos of a lived-in writing space is just the right way for his legacy to continue. If you find yourself on the corner of Broadway and Ferry one of these days—stop in to say hello, and maybe you’ll catch the light of inspiration in those curtains too.
Catherine Buck is the Program Director at Mighty Writers Camden. To learn more, register your student, or to sign up to volunteer, check out our current programming schedule or visit us at www.mightywriters.org.