Quist, QWF’s literary journal for Quebec youth aged 14–21, is seeking a volunteer to manage and update its list of outreach contacts in preparation for its next call for submissions in the fall.
Task:
To update and expand a contact list of educators and youth community workers who are well positioned to share information about Quist with English-speaking youth in Quebec. This list will be used to promote the upcoming open call for submissions (October 1–31).
Timeline:
Ideally completed by early September, ahead of our next outreach campaign.
Background:
The current list was compiled last year and exists only as a BCC email thread—essentially a cut-and-paste setup—which has proven difficult to manage or update effectively. As part of this task, we’d like to transition the list into a more functional and organized format: a spreadsheet that can easily be imported into Google Contacts for future outreach.
Overview:
The existing contacts are mostly principals at English-language secondary schools across Quebec, along with some English professors at CEGEPs, a few librarians, and contacts from relevant listservs. However, principals aren’t always the best point of contact for sharing youth literary opportunities. We’re hoping to identify more targeted contacts such as:
- Heads of English departments
- School librarians
- Youth program coordinators at community centers or libraries
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
- Verify Existing Contacts
- Confirm whether each person currently listed is still employed at the school or institution.
- Update names, job titles, and email addresses as needed.
- Identify Better Contacts Where Applicable
- Where possible, identify one or two additional staff members at each institution who may be more directly involved with students (e.g., English teachers, librarians, or youth workers—i.e., less administrative).
- This may involve checking the school’s or centre’s website or calling reception to ask for appropriate contact information.
- Create a Structured, Shareable Spreadsheet
- Input all verified and new contact details into a spreadsheet with clear column headers (e.g., First Name, Last Name, Email, Institution, Job Title).
- The final spreadsheet should be formatted so it can be easily imported into Google Contacts for streamlined communication.
Materials Provided:
- The current list (copied from the existing BCC email format)
- A brief description of Quist and the open call, if needed for reference during outreach or inquiries
Support
The volunteer can contact Jen DeLeskie, Quist Editor-in-Chief, at any time with questions or for additional guidance throughout the process.
How to Apply
If interested, please email Jen DeLeskie at jen@quistlit.com expressing your interest. A c.v. or cover letter is not necessary.