Imagine

Picture a quiet sanctuary away from tough streets. A safe place where inner-city kids can read and write in peace. Here, kind, patient people listen to these children, their ideas, their feelings, the story of their day. Imagine young people at risk, empowered -rediscovering their creativity, leaping reading levels and grade-levels - catching up, grabbing the future by the tail, busting the barriers of lesser expectations and troubled times...helping themselves and each other.

This is Still Waters in a Storm, an innovative and highly successful literacy program for children living below the poverty line in the volatile neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn.

 

Children's Stories

When Solomon came here, at age 10, he could not read. Not at all. Three months later he was reading aloud in public, in front of neighborhood families and friends. Now, 6 months later, he is tutoring 6 and 7-year olds in reading.

 

Roxanne arrived at Still Waters failing out of middle school, with grades of 55 or below in all subjects. 5 months later, enrolled in high school, she is scoring 80s and 90s all the way across the curriculum.

 

Penelope and Lola are sisters, both of whom were being bullied in school and were fighting with each other non-stop. Visibly depressed, neglecting their grooming and health, they had no interest in reading or writing. Now, at peace with each other, they voluntarily write, page after page, telling their own fantastical serialized narratives day by day, and they eagerly read whenever they can, averaging a book per week, just for fun. And the shadows are gone from beneath their eyes.

 

"I have never seen anything quite so moving and heartening in all my years as a writing teacher."--Richard Price

 

How it Works

The basic ritual at Still Waters is simple: Everybody writes, about anything, in any style, grown-ups and children side by side. Then, in a sacred hush, everybody listens to each person read what they've written. That's all. This reverential listening turns lives around.

 

"I love class so so so much. We get to listen."--Angie, age 6

 

World-famous writers and artists (Peter Carey, Sharon Olds, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Colum McCann, Wallace Shawn, Kate Valk and Deborah Eisenberg, among many others) join in this ritual on Saturdays, listening to each and every child, and giving expert encouragement.

 

"I was in the very presence of the transformative power of words."--Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

 

We also offer volunteer mentoring, tutoring and homework help by neighborhood parents, high school and college students, young professionals, and graduate students from Hunter College, New York University, and The New School, plus homeschooling, and classes in photography, yoga, art, music, chess, and guided trips all around New York City, to museums and shows and libraries and parks, all free to families in Bushwick.

This is the kind of opportunity usually reserved for the most privileged.

 

Our Goal

The kids attending Still Waters have improved so much in school that parents from all over the neighborhood are knocking on our door, pleading with us to please accept more children. We are growing fast, serving two dozen families, with another three dozen on our waiting list! The need in Bushwick is great. Please help us keep a roof over our students and their learning, a roof over their hopes!

 

"When I come to Still Waters, it makes me remember who I am. (Also because I have a lot of problems in my house, so when I come here it helps me.)"--Marisol, age 12.

 

Ways to Help

Be part of our village of love and learning! If our video moves you, if you agree that this is a necessary project, a project that benefits all of us (because educated, happy, confident kids really CAN change our world for the better) then give what you can and pass this campaign around, far and wide!

 

Please tell everybody you know, your family, co-workers, pals. Ask them to tell everybody they know! Post our campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and even your own website. Send out an email, call your family!

 

Slip a note under your boss's door - maybe the company you work for would like to sponsor us as a charitable tax write-off? Ask friends to donate what they can. Even small amounts add up to a lot of hope!

 

"This is our other family."--Maya, age 8

 

Please join us! Come visit!

 

Love,

 

Stephen, Josie, Big Jonathan, Little Jonathan, Evelyn, Uta, Time, Ever, Giovanna, Jovy, Kimberly, Reeyaz, Michael, Modesto, Rick, Diane, Andy, Meghan, Danny, Jenny, Lydia, Luz, Christopher, Michele, Dulce, Jasmine, Haley, Jamie, Rachel, Gabriel, Maria, Emmanuel, Bryan, Bryant, Karen, Jaeline, Frida, Tatiana, Alvaro, Anevay, Milton, Elisa, Lluvia, Rocio, Ismael, Alex, Leslie, Aline, Whitney, Angel, Betzi, Katie, Bailey, Melody, Solomon, Penelope, Lola, Roxanne, Pan, and everyone else at Still Waters!

P.S. New perk available at 100.00 or more! You will receive a lovely gift basket from Aesop! These packages contain Aesop's very lovely and high quality skin care products. (Made in Australia!) Look!    http://www.aesop.com/shop-us/classic-skin-care