Provided by Give Back Prince William
Non-profit Give Back Prince William has partnered with award-winning poet and author Katherine Gotthardt to bring poetry to the classroom by raising funds to donate copies of Gotthardt’s books. Gotthardt, who has a background in teaching and writing, will use the books as guides in free workshops she is offering local students with fewer opportunities to explore creative writing. The goal is to help youth learn to use their writing voice as a mechanism for powerful, positive self-expression.
Creative writing, including writing poetry, is an important part of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education. Learning to write poetry has been proven to enable students to:
- Develop a different set of thinking skills, including creative and abstract thinking
- Improve language and communication skills
- Develop empathy and self-awareness
- Gain multiple mental health benefits
“In my own youth, I discovered writing poetry was a way I could make sense of the world and say the things I needed to say that I couldn’t verbally,” Gotthardt said. “Writing poetry was a release, an amazing channel for pent up emotion and conflicting thoughts that often threatened to overwhelm me. Poetry still helps me to this day. It is a way to synthesize ideas and perceptions artistically and be heard. I want our youth especially to understand there’s a different way to tell the world what it needs to hear.”
Founder of Give Back Prince William Rebecca Barnes said, “This partnership aligns perfectly with the mission of Give Back Prince William. We are dedicated to serving the community through projects that offer great value and enhance quality of life locally, projects that create a ripple effect. If we can help our youth better express themselves, develop more sophisticated thinking skills and practice the literary arts…all while supporting our teachers…it’s a huge win.”
Individuals are encouraged to support the program by sponsoring book printing. To sponsor a book, visit the Give Back Prince William website. Businesses and organizations interested in corporate sponsorships may contact Barnes at info@givebackpw.org.
About Give Back Prince William
Give Back Prince William (GBPW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to build a better community by supporting initiatives that impact quality-of-life, including economic development, the arts, education and more. GBPW encourages volunteerism through our local not-for-profits by harnessing the reach of Prince William Living (PWL) and other resources. For more information, visit givebackpw.org.
