Amanda Gorman Announces WriteGirl Partnership with Estée Lauder WRITING CHANGE Initiative
WriteGirl alum Amanda Gorman has announced WriteGirl as a partner in WRITING CHANGE, a three-year initiative to advance literacy. Led by The Estée Lauder Companies and inspired by Global Changemaker Amanda Gorman, WRITING CHANGE will support organizations that provide equitable access to literacy education, help shape future advocates and activists, and promote innovative approaches to igniting social change through artistic expression in youth.
"We're so glad to see The Estée Lauder Companies championing the importance of literacy for young women worldwide,” said WriteGirl Executive Director Keren Taylor. “Literacy is the foundation for the pursuit of any career, from science to screenwriting, and we look forward to helping support this vital initiative, with our WriteGirl alum Amanda Gorman leading the way. It was exciting to join Amanda on a worldwide call with the other partners and thousands of employees from The Estée Lauder Companies when this project was announced. What a thrill to reflect on the 14-year-old Amanda that joined WriteGirl, and the fierce and fabulous poet and social justice advocate she has become!”
In its first year, WRITING CHANGE will focus on U.S. organizations with the potential to expand globally in years two and three. WRITING CHANGE grant recipients (WriteGirl, the American Library Association, We Need Diverse Books, Girls Write Now and MIGIZI) were selected based on their proven ability to catalyze impact for youth, families, and diverse communities, demonstrated ability to collaborate across the nonprofit sector, and their ability to broaden their programmatic scale through WRITING CHANGE’s pillars of access, advocacy, and artistic expression.
“I am so thrilled that the work of these worthy organizations can continue to reach more communities through WRITING CHANGE. Representation in literacy matters,” said Amanda Gorman. “For youth, literacy is a pathway to social expression that leads to progress. I truly believe that words lead to actions that can change the world. I am so proud of the work that I know is to come, and I look forward to this first year of impact through WRITING CHANGE.”
WRITING CHANGE funding will support the WriteGirl Core Mentoring Program, reaching girls with creative writing workshops, one-on-one mentoring by professional women, leadership development, and college/career-focused resources.
“Amanda is a role model for an entire generation of new leaders, and we are deeply in-spired by her energy, passion, and thought-leadership,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies. “We’re honored and excited to be behind these incredible organizations making amazing crossroads in literacy.”
Read about the initiative in Teen Vogue!
Click here to learn more about the WRITING CHANGE initiative.