Though Annie and Elvis have only been with us a few months, they've already made a big impact.
Thanks to a partnership with the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) Commonwealth Corps, WriteBoston’s Teens in Print program (TiP) has expanded over the past few years to serve more youth. We’ve continued that growth this year with the help of two new MSA Commonwealth Corps members, Annie Kelley and Elvis Alvarado, who have joined the TiP team in piloting a new program model. Our newly tiered structure introduces younger and less experienced writers to TiP through lower-commitment programs, and emphasizes strong wraparound supports.
Though Annie and Elvis have only been with us for three months, they’ve already become an integral part of the small but mighty TiP team. They’ve enthusiastically jumped into direct service and behind-the-scenes roles to ensure that each young person we serve has the support they need to thrive.
“Annie and Elvis have a great rapport with the students and the talent of drawing them out.”
Linda Garmon, Teacher at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School

Annie has focused on deepening our work with college-bound students, working alongside another TiP staffer to offer customized college and career supports to local schools and nonprofits. If a student needs more individualized support, Annie meets with them one-on-one. Her guidance has ensured that many students walk away with a strong resume or a polished personal statement, ready to move on to college or meaningful work.
Elvis, meanwhile, has dived headfirst into TiP’s afterschool program. His recruitment efforts across the city and the curriculum he’s developed and delivered has engaged a whole new cohort of middle schoolers. These budding young journalists are the first to ascend our new program tiers; they intend to write for the student newspaper in the new year. In addition, Elvis’ experience hosting his own podcast has propelled him into a key role as advisor to TiP’s newest project: a student-led podcast.

In the short time they’ve been with us, Annie and Elvis have proven themselves as valuable assets to our work. With their support, TiP’s impact has reached new heights; as of November, our weekly programs are serving 53 students–an organizational record! We’re grateful to Annie and Elvis for the mentorship and expertise they offer our students, their willingness to jump in and help our staff, and their general enthusiasm for WriteBoston’s work. With these two capable Corps members by our side, we’re reaching more youth than ever before, ensuring that communication skills are never a barrier to a student’s success.
Many thanks to the Massachusetts Service Alliance Commonwealth Corps for supporting WriteBoston’s work and sending us Annie and Elvis. Your partnership has been instrumental in TiP’s growth and its work with students.