Iris Starn Workshops Launched March 2023

In Spring 2023, seven NewLit workshops are taking place, delivering arts education to more than one-hundred young people. In addition to the two at Emery High School, five Simpson Workshops are taught by Simpson Fellows from the Berkeley English Department: Contra Costa Juvenile Hall, Girls Inc Alameda County (2), CalPrep, and Northgate High School.

Introducing our inaugural Iris Starn Fellows—distinguished teachers and writers who are MFA candidates in creative writing at St. Mary’s College of California. These two esteemed writers will be teaching creative writing workshops, free of charge, at Emery High, the public high school in Emeryville, California, thanks to the generous, sustaining support of the Starn Family in collaboration with New Literary Project.

When asked what their favorite habits are for holding their creative practice at a daily rigor, they responded:

Camila Elizabet Aguirre Aguilar
(Emery High)

Paying attention. On the city bus. In the waiting room. On the drive home. On the bench next to the viejita with the pink roses and paper grocery bags. Paying attention gives us permission to witness the sacred. It is omnipresent. Nothing is too trivial. Everything takes on a shape, color, story, and meaning that compels us to write about it. In an unfeeling system hellbent on making an assembly line out of everything — paying attention is contraband for the creative.

Carly Blackwell
(Emery High)

I try to listen to music every day before and during writing. My writing is inspired by, among other things, music so having time to really listen and take in the lyrics of other artists encourages me to create my own art.

The year is in full swing, and so is NewLit. With your support, we can continue providing opportunities to writers in all stages of their careers. Join us today in our mission to drive social change, and unleash artistic power.