“Every story, every sentence, is a heartbeat I can feel, a rhythm I can catch.

But heartbeats do not echo in isolation; they carry the memory of the ground they rise from.”

— Excerpt from “My Ndombolo: The Hum of the World” by Norka Kalonji

WINNER OF THE 2026 FOUNDERS PRIZE

Dear Friend,

When was the last time you had the chance to be creative and play? When you were encouraged and uplifted by the people around you? When you read the words you wrote aloud and they were held by everyone in the room, with the recognition and great care they deserve? At The Telling Room, we have the great joy of working with youth throughout Maine every day, awakening, strengthening, and uplifting the writer within.

I write to you this year from The Telling Room’s new home at 55 Washington Avenue in Portland. Though the walls have changed, what happens inside them remains the same. Students emerge from the long hallway carrying with them full bags and minds, holding all manner of feelings and thoughts —inspiration primed for the writing community they are joining.

Curling up in nooks, cross-legged on red rugs, taking up space on the familiar couches, gathered around tables, the sounds of pencils scratching paper transition to laughter, snaps and claps of encouragement. These are the visions and sounds of transformation, youth writing, sharing and discovering the power of their voices and themselves.

As we started this year’s programs in our new home, I thought of Norka’s quote. How each year, (twenty-two and counting) we are inspired by the youth we teach and write alongside. That we get to be part of the “ground they rise from”—supporting their growth and development as they find their power through the literary arts. Every twelve months we amplify hundreds of youth stories and poems in books, and on stages, in libraries, and bookstores. Beyond Washington Avenue, The Telling Room exists where youth are writing and using their voices, wherever that may be.

You can help make possible that electrifying experience for youth in a space where they can express themselves, be heard, and wholly seen. Our programs remain free for youth and their families, because all youth who want to write, learn, lift each other up, should have the opportunity.

Thank you for being part of this community that listens and holds each other’s stories—each day, semester, summer, and year. I hope you will support this critically important work.

How strong we are when we rise together.

With gratitude,

Kristina Powell

she/her/hers

Executive Director of The Telling Room

365 days can barely capture all that we do here. To learn more about how we empower youth and uplift their voices, read this year’s full impact report.

THANK YOU, TELLING ROOM COMMUNITY!

Your support helps ensure that we can continue offering our out-of-school and school-based programs at no cost, empowering Maine youth to share their stories and build their confidence and creative voice through writing without barriers. We are incredibly grateful that we can continue this work together.

If you like the sound of supporting The Telling Room year-round, please consider becoming a monthly donor through our Circle Up program. Recurring gifts sustain our programs and publications all year long.

That’s the boost we saw in our students’ self-confidence around the writing process after working with us, with our recent survey showing gains of 50% compared to last year’s results. Students developed stronger literary craft skills, comfort sharing their work, and a belief that their voice matters.

88% of our students reported an increase in their confidence around writing, and developed a stronger sense of enthusiasm when it came to bringing their stories to the blank page.

By contributing to The Telling Room today, you're supporting Maine’s youth and the state’s entire creative landscape of writers, artists, readers, and engaged cultural citizens—enriching the lives of individuals and our communities across Maine at a time when these connections and conversations are deeply needed.

Dear Friends,

At The Telling Room, we know that engaging with art as individuals and in our communities is critical. We write to spark imagination, foster courage, and cultivate joy in the creative process. And last year, 95% of our youth participants reported positive growth in their writing enthusiasm, skill-building, and confidence after working with The Telling Room. Youth write with us and their sense of self shifts and evolves, so they can dream up and realize their powerful potential.

Communities need art. Reading and engaging in all forms of the literary arts means we are perspective taking, learning, developing, and continuing to grow—that across generations, identities, and lived experiences, we don’t sit stagnant but flourish in a culture of plurality. One where we are united in our shared values of supporting each other and continuing to seek inspiration and understanding. We foster this exchange of ideas and intergenerational connections at The Telling Room through our many opportunities for mentorship between authors of all ages, as generations of literary artists encourage one another and build community together—in our studio, online, in schools, in libraries, and inside their beautiful books.

Together, the artists, educators, professionals, and nonprofit partner organizations we collaborate with ensure that youth are part of this powerful and dynamic creative community—right now—as they find their voices on the page and beyond. These relationships make the entire State of Maine stronger. We are proud to be part of Maine’s vital arts and culture sector, which contributes $2.5 billion annually to our economy and our shared financial ecosystem.

Your support helps us bring youth together to realize their power through the literary arts. Your support helps us nurture communities who refuse to let their curiosity wane and who seek inspiration from each other’s creativity, viewpoints, and stories. We thank you for being part of this community of action together.

With gratitude,

Kristina M. J. Powell,
Executive Director, she/her/hers

Learn more about every program, in-school residency, field trip, and summer camp that brought a greater sense of belonging and self-confidence to all 2,670 of our young writer’s lives.