OUR IMPACT
Our Mission
Young Storytellers is an arts non-profit that empowers authentic, essential new voices and changes what’s possible.
Our programs provide the guidance and support to explore, discover, and express one’s own unique story, and a stage for sharing it with others.
Young Storytellers elevates young voices, made of their distinct background, culture, race, gender, sexuality, ability, and immigration and economic status, to bring powerful new perspectives into our communities and society.
We raise voices, one story at a time.
Our Vision
Storytelling is the heartbeat of community.
When someone shares their story, they’re not simply expressing themselves, but weaving the very fabric that makes us human. We gather around to experience our world from a fresh perspective, in new ways.
Empowering young storytellers creates a future where their voice matters and ensures that our collective journey is inclusive, growing, and evolving.
WE VALUE…
Belonging
We celebrate originality and individuality. Our community is made better when we can speak fully from our unique perspectives and identities.
Connection
People are at the center of everything we do. Genuine connection requires empathy, sensitivity, and honesty.
Exploration
Being vulnerable and inventive requires a supportive environment. We foster spaces where we can explore ourselves, the communities in which we live, and how we can impact the world.
Play
Play with purpose allows us to investigate the world with wonder. This is how we open the road to creativity.
Equity
Unique identities, backgrounds, and perspectives make the world a better place. We fight against the racism, prejudice, and bias that exist in our systems and cultures so that all people are treated with respect and dignity.
WHAT WE DO
Our programs engage elementary, middle, and high school students through creative writing and storytelling.
Our curriculum prioritizes the importance of social emotional learning and social justice skills, like recognizing and managing emotions, collaborating, and building relationships with others.
Students are encouraged to bring their experiences, cultures, and identities into their writing, and to know that their ideas and voices can drive meaningful change in their lives.
25 Years of Experience
Our programs were born in the classroom and developed alongside educators to serve a wide range of students and learning environments.Fun & Immersive
We engage students in a creative experience that is guided, supportive, designed to give them confidence, and helps them shine.Community-Centric
Our programs are shaped by the communities we serve, and we keep our students’ experiences at the center of what we do.Standardized
Our curriculum is aligned with Common Core, CASEL’s SEL Framework, National and California Arts Standards, and Social Justice Standards outlined by Learning for Justice.Scalable & Turnkey
Our programs are modular and flexible, fitting the needs of our partner schools and organizations while delivering significant impact.
How we do it
What We’ve Done
100%
of Young Storytellers complete their script and see it brought to life on stage
90%
of teachers report that students become more confident in their ability to share
95%
of students show an
increased interest in writing
97%
of students feel more able to work with others that they disagree with
120,000+
plus friends and families have attended Big Shows
12,500+
stories told (and counting)
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
As of the 2023-24 school year
49% Male
51% Female
4% Asian
8% Black or African American
55% Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin
1% Middle Eastern or North African
12% White
13% Two or More Races
7% Other Race or Ethnicity
11
different languages are spoken as a first or second language in our students’ homes
84%
of schools where we deliver programs are Title 1, an important low income economic indicator
