Who are WriteGirl Mentors?
WriteGirl is very fortunate to have such a dynamic and talented group of writers to mentor our teens. Each of them go above and beyond their roles as a volunteer to be incredible guides to our teens and to help our organization to thrive.
WriteGirl Mentors are poets, screenwriters, teachers, grantwriters, journalists and more.
WriteGirl Mentors often work with a teen for 3-4 years.
WriteGirl Mentors are invested in their teen's future and help with college applications and scholarship processes.
WriteGirl mentors come from a broad range of careers and take on many different types of roles at WriteGirl to help support our mission. Here are just a few members to introduce you to:
Maiya Williams has been writing professionally for 40 years, in multiple forms: sitcoms, sketch shows, talk shows, children's television and animation. Some of her television writing (and producing) credits include Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Mad-TV, Rugrats, The Haunted Hathaways, The Last O.G., and Futurama. Her work has been nominated three times for Writer's Guild of America awards. She has also written five published middle-grade novels. She is currently working on getting a Ph.D. in U.S. History and plans to branch into writing non-fiction books that focus on little known areas of Black History.
Clare Sera is an improviser, writer, producer and playwright - she loves all forms of storytelling. She’s best known as an improviser for co-founding the SAK Theatre Comedy Lab in Orlando, as an actress for appearing in Princess Diaries and as a writer for the rom-com “Blended” and the animated feature “Smallfoot.” She is currently producing two films with Powerscourt Pictures in Ireland. She’s been with WriteGirl from day one, and never ceases to be amazed by the power and depth of the teens’ imaginations.
Jane Anderson’s career has spanned over 40 years as a writer and director for theater, film and television. Among her many television credits is Olive Kitteridge for which she received an Emmy Award, Writers Guild Award and was nominated for the Golden Globe for best limited series. Some of her feature film credits include The Wife and The Prizewinner of Defiance. Her plays have been produced Off-Broadway and in theaters around the country and Europe. Volunteering for WriteGirl recharges her heart. She is honored to hand over the writing torch to all you incredible young women.
Wileena Booker is a poet, educator and advocate for social justice. Willeena's poetry affirms Black Identity and culture. In February 2022, Willeena's poem Longing For More, was selected to kick off the Global Leadership in Agriculture (GLAG) 2022 Virtual Conference. In honor of Black History Month 2022, Willeena's poem, “One Voice,” was set to music by world renowned composer Rollo Dilworth. Willeena loves using her poetry as a catalyst for change. Willeena lives in Blue Bell, PA with her family, and her piles of poetry books.
Annlee Ellingson is co-Editor-in-Chief of Exposition Review. She is editor, digital cities, for American City Business Journals and writes a column about films directed by women. She’s a mentor and managing editor for WriteGirl, as well as treasurer of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. She holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Southern California and a BA in film studies from the University of Minnesota. She tweets and instagrams about books, movies, hiking, food, travel, and nephews at @annleee.
Cathy Standiford is a former city manager and local government consultant who held executive level positions in the cities of Garden Grove, La Palma and Santa Ana. Cathy also previously served on the faculty at California State University, Fullerton, where she taught public sector courses on leading change, conflict resolution and ethical decision making. Now retired, Cathy writes poetry, personal essays and fiction. A WriteGirl volunteer since 2018, Cathy is passionately committed to amplifying the voices of women and girls and advocating for gender equality locally and globally. Cathy’s advocacy work has taken her around the world from Australia to Africa, and she has attended the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations four times, most recently in 2021.
Lisa Horiuchi is an editor and writer of fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, and business/academic content. Her novelette was published by Ploughshares, and she currently serves as an assistant editor at Conjunctions.
Kathryn Kay is an author and writing coach for women. Through writing retreats in Tuscany, Martha’s vineyard, and Santa Barbara, online workshops, and private coaching, she helps women embrace their writing life and take their craft to the next level. She is the author of the novel, The Gilder, and is working on a memoir. awriterwithin.com
Elena Perez is a WGA TV writer, novelist and poet, best known for her work on the hit broadcast series Chicago PD. A Stowe Story Labs Fellow and CineStory TV alum, Elena also earned an M.A. in Creative Writing: Poetry on a fellowship. Elena came to Los Angeles from New York City, where she ran marketing for tech and media startups, eventually launching a successful consulting business. Elena volunteers for WriteGirl because she knows how challenging it can be to find and develop your own voice. She continues to be inspired by the creativity and courage of WriteGirl teens and alums.
Gabriella Hadley is a business writer and editor. She creates reports, articles, blog posts and other web content. She’s passionate about business writing that’s straightforward and accessible, and content that’s clear, engaging and jargon-free. Gabriella enjoys creating poetry as a way of journaling and experiencing both the silly and the serious sides of life.
Ashley Griggs (she/her) is a screenwriter and higher education professional from Herndon, VA. She earned her BA in Film Studies and French at the College of William & Mary and later received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University where she was awarded a Future Screenwriters Fellowship. Ashley is the co-creator and co-instructor of Embracing the Multidisciplinary Writer: Lessons Across Genre & Form, a workshop centered on exploring different types of writing to spark inspiration and expand creative portfolios. Ashley has planned a wide range of writing and entertainment workshops professionally, moderated creative industry discussions, served as a reader for the Austin Film Festival, and has worked for a variety of production companies in film, television and theater development and production. Ashley has also written for the narrative podcast The Host, and directed plays in New York City and Los Angeles.
Michelle Lewis is an award winning songwriter & composer and a highly-influential music creators’ rights advocate. For more than two decades, she has written charting singles for a diverse array of artists - from Amy Grant (“I Will Be Your Friend”) and Cher (“Different Kind of Love Song”) to Little Mix (“Wings”) and Andra Dae (“All Rise”) - and has branched into songwriting for animated and Kids & Family television; with six Emmy nominations and two wins for Bubble Guppies, The Loud House, Netflix’s Julie and the Phantoms and We the People, and a Peabody Award for her work on Disney’s breakthrough series, Doc McStuffins. Currently, she is an executive producer, writer and composer on a show she co-created, Kindergarten The Musical, for Disney Junior which premiered in September of 2024. She is a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Songwriters of North America (SONA) and the SONA Foundation, a trade association and charitable organization for songwriters and composers and serves on the Board of Directors at ASCAP.
Lynelle Kerstine is an Independent Education Consultant who discovered her love of helping students achieve their college and career goals while volunteering for the WriteGirl College Access Program. She draws on her years of expertise as a creative marketing executive and writing expert to help students master the college planning and application process. Lynelle learned how to craft impactful stories as a double major in English and Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Rising through the ranks of the entertainment industry to Senior Vice President of Creative Advertising at New Line Cinema, she leveraged her education and skills to create award-winning, multi-million dollar marketing campaigns that won over audiences.
Oriana B. John has worked tirelessly to help organizations achieve fundraising and service goals. As the Volunteer Manager at Healing California, Oriana recruits, motivates, oversees, and retains the general and professional volunteers who provide free, quality dental and vision care to those in need in California. The organization embodies Oriana’s passion and skills from a lifetime commitment to helping others through her leadership position and community work. She loves returning home to Antigua to visit family, swim in the ocean and enjoy Antiguan cuisine.
Rashmi Jolly is a global innovation leader dedicated to advancing products and solutions that foster better health, wealth, and human connections, with a focus on women. Guided by the principles of empowerment, inclusivity, and empathy, she drives progress forward through deep problem-solving, cross-cultural collaboration, and a future-forward vision for a more hopeful, enriched global future. She has written on these topics for the Economist Intelligence Unit, Wall Street Journal, FT and others, and is weaving her experiences into her first mystery novel.