#UMassGives 2018

The Juniper Institute for Young Writers creates space for diverse community, where teenagers from all over the country, with vastly different life experiences, can meet and bond over a shared love for the literary arts.

At Juniper, high school students find access to the writer's life. Through a curriculum that facilitates wild invention, participants generate new writing, experiment with style and form, access tools for finding inspiration in their day-to-day lives, and learn how to connect with an audience. Living together in close-knit "pods," Young Writers participate in workshops, studio sessions, readings, and field trips. Many also earn academic credit while they enjoy a pre-college residential experience on the UMass Amherst campus.

In more than a decade of offering this summer Institute, hundreds of young writers have immersed themselves in the writer’s life here, an experience that they tell us continues to resonate with them for years to come.

Every year, many more talented young writers apply for scholarships than the number we have available. We are grateful to our scholarship sponsors: the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Four Wings Photography, and the Scholastic Awards Summer Scholarship program, for offering full scholarships to three young writers this summer.

You can help make this pivotal experience available to one more writer with your #UMassGives donation. Our goal is to raise $900 to fund one more Young Writer scholarship.

The nationally renowned literary magazine jubilat has generously offered to match the first $250 of donations toward this scholarship!

Ways to Help:

• Donate what you can during #UMassGives! The minimum donation is just $5.00.

• Spread the word about our Power Hour: 2-3 pm on April 26

Winning the $2000 Power Hour bonus is the difference between a half-tuition scholarship and a FULL-tuition scholarship, PLUS travel funding and a book allowance from Amherst Books.

• Follow us on Facebook and share our posts to your network to garner more support!

Juniper participants say:

“Never had I been exposed to kids interested in the same things, leading such different lives in such different places than myself. We were able to engage in meaningful discussions with such different perspectives, ideas, and opinions, and appreciate the work of others.”

“Sometimes I think writers seem far away behind that microphone, unreachable to mere 17-year-olds, but these were people who ate lunch with us, people we had real conversations with. People we could be someday.”

“Because writing is such a solitary activity, it's good to spend time living in a community of people who are as passionate about writing as you are. My friends and fellow writers definitely fueled my love of writing.”

Every writer can remember a moment when the path to a creative life became visible to them for the first time. We hope you’ll join us in nurturing that spark.

Thank you!

More information about the Juniper Institute for Young Writers

Visit the #UMass Gives page for jubilat literary magazine, our generous matching donor

Hear what Young Writers have to say about their Juniper experience