Y.U.R.W.I.

The YOUTH URBAN READING & WRITING INITIATIVE (Y.U.R.W.I.) is an English Language Arts & Media Arts-based program with the mission of increasing the reading skill levels and media literacy of underserved teens and young adults between the ages of 16-24 years old. The program's goal is to strengthen participants' abilities in reading comprehension, creative writing, media literacy, and public speaking.

Y.U.R.W.I. takes a bold new approach to traditional literacy programs, tailored specifically to urban students who face unique learning challenges. The program is developed by Ms. Jami Rhue, drawing from her 20 years of experience in the educational field. She collaborates with established author and spoken word poet Y. Blak Moore to create a series of urban fiction novels, creative writing workbooks, and media literacy exercises that resonate with the interests and lifestyles of the program's participants.

Program Details:

• Organization: Summer Youth Employment Program
• Site: Virtual
• Time: June 26 - August 6, 2023
• Facilitator(s): Published Author Y. Blak Moore and Library Media Specialist Ms. Jami Rhue

Materials, Expectations, and Costs:

• Participant Access to Wi-Fi: Necessary for virtual participation.
• Class Curriculum Platforms: Google Suite and Zoom Chat will be used for sharing, monitoring, and evaluating the curriculum.
• Copyright: All class curriculum is copyrighted by R & M Publications, LLC.

Timeline - YURWI Session Pacing Guide:

• Week 1: Introduction to Creative Writing & Reading Foundations; Evaluate Creative Writing Skills & Career Connections.
• Week 2: Creative Writing & Reading Interactive Activities, Level I; Draft poems/short stories.
• Week 3: Creative Writing & Reading Interactive Activities, Level II; Review poems/short stories.
• Week 4: Creative Writing & Reading Interactive Activities, Level III; Revise poems/short stories.
• Week 5: Creative Writing & Reading Interactive Activities, Level IV; Present poems/short stories.

The program offers the following components:

1. Reading Comprehension: Participants engage with young adult novels that contain real-life situations relevant to inner-city and urban students. Detailed discussion questions are provided for each chapter, encouraging in-depth exploration of the themes and content. Group discussions, literature circles, and socratic seminars are utilized to facilitate understanding and critical analysis.
2. Creative Writing/Thinking: The program encourages participants to step outside of their comfort zones and develop their creative writing skills. They are prompted to write short stories and poetry, fostering expression and utilization of grammatical and literary tools.
3. Media Literacy: This segment teaches participants how to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media content related to the reading material. It equips them with critical thinking skills to better understand and navigate media messages.
4. Virtual Format: The program is conducted online, making it accessible to participants who have access to Wi-Fi. Google Suite and Zoom Chat are used for sharing, monitoring, and evaluating the class curriculum.
5. Curriculum Tailored for Urban Students: The program's curriculum is specifically designed to resonate with the interests and lifestyles of urban students, addressing their unique learning challenges.
6. Collaboration with Established Authors: The program is developed in collaboration with a published author and spoken word poet, Y. Blak Moore, and experienced educator Ms. Jami Rhue. This collaboration brings diverse expertise to the program.
7. Session Pacing: The program is structured over a period of weeks, with specific activities and goals for each week. It guides participants through different levels of creative writing and reading interactive activities.The program offers the following components:
8. Reading Comprehension: Participants engage with young adult novels that contain real-life situations relevant to inner-city and urban students. Detailed discussion questions are provided for each chapter, encouraging in-depth exploration of the themes and content. Group discussions, literature circles, and Socratic seminars are utilized to facilitate understanding and critical analysis.
9. Creative Writing/Thinking: The program encourages participants to step outside of their comfort zones and develop their creative writing skills. They are prompted to write short stories and poetry, fostering expression and utilization of grammatical and literary tools.
10. Media Literacy: This segment teaches participants how to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media content related to the reading material. It equips them with critical thinking skills to better understand and navigate media messages.
11. Virtual Format: The program is conducted online, making it accessible to participants who have access to Wi-Fi. Google Suite and Zoom Chat are used for sharing, monitoring, and evaluating the class curriculum.
12. Curriculum Tailored for Urban Students: The program's curriculum is specifically designed to resonate with the interests and lifestyles of urban students, addressing their unique learning challenges.
13. Collaboration with Established Authors: The program is developed in collaboration with a published author and spoken word poet, Y. Blak Moore, and experienced educator Ms. Jami Rhue. This collaboration brings diverse expertise to the program.
14. Session Pacing: The program is structured over a period of weeks, with specific activities and goals for each week. It guides participants through different levels of creative writing and reading interactive activities.

Total Cost per Cohort $1500:

• 3 Cohorts 
• 4 hrs. per day/1 day a week/per cohort 
• Mondays 9a-1p (Mr. Moore) 
• Wednesdays 9a - 1p (Mr. Moore) 
• Thursdays 1p-5p (Ms. Rhue)