QWF’s Writers in the Community program pairs small groups of young people with a professional writer or literary performance artist who can teach them and, more importantly, motivate them, to use language to express themselves in productive ways. In each project, a writer-facilitator works with a small group for 10 weeks, teaching them language tools, giving them writing prompts, and ultimately, boosting their self-confidence by showing them that they are capable of producing literary work of value.
Recent projects
Pyramid Campaign : Help us make a difference in the lives of Quebec kids who have been left out of the mainstream by supporting this program. Make a donation
Meet the writer-facilitators
Michael “BeWyrd” Clarke
Michael “BeWyrd” Clarke is a poet based in Tio’tia:ke (aka Montréal). He has performed solo and in collaboration with poets, musicians, and dancers across Canada at poetry slams, live events, and festivals. In 2023, he received QWF’s Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Prize. His poetry explores the music of the voice, the legacy of trauma, and the hope in every breath. He is the president of the Throw! Poetry Collective which showcases competitive yet friendly bilingual poetry slams once a month. Every year, he helps produce the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) as part of the Verses Festival of Words in Vancouver. He has a Master’s degree in Educational Technology and is currently working on a studio album.
There is no organization more worthy of support than the QWF. You made a huge difference in my school … Keep up your worthy mission to help our youth find the means to express themselves. It makes all the difference.
Danny Olivenstein, former teacher at Mountainview School
Program sponsors
We would also like to express our gratitude to the following sponsors, without whom the Writers in the Community program would not be possible
