We’re proud to report that this year’s Pros&Conversation event—our first virtual fundraiser—exceeded our expectations. To all of you who tuned in or supported from afar, thank you for making this event a success. With your help, we surpassed our fundraising goal and brought nearly 200 guests together to celebrate student voice and the power of writing.

Together, we raised over $145,000 for WriteBoston's student journalism and teacher training programs.

Funds raised are poured into WriteBoston’s operating budget to support all our programming. This revenue helps ensure that we can continue to offer free writing opportunities for Boston students as well as coaching and professional development to educators across Massachusetts. (Check out our 2020 annual report for more about our work last year.)
Customarily, this event features an author panel led by Teens in Print journalists. This year, we tweaked the format to include a series of two-way interviews between acclaimed regional authors and student journalists. Authors discussed their writing journeys and asked students about their own. The conversations are worth a watch—revisit them at the videos below.

Watch the student-author interviews

Click the video below to play.

We shared remarks from partner educators, as well as Teens in Print students, alumni, and staff on the value of writing and staying connected during a pandemic year. You can hear those perspectives by viewing the event playlist.

More about our featured speakers

Click the image to learn more.

Thank you to our event committee

Kathleen Allen

Maren Anderson
MDA Consulting Inc.

Sebastian Barreveld

Leigh Belanger
Writer & Editor

Katie DeBonville
Boston Baroque

Caitlin Dodge
ThinkArgus

Andrea Goodman
Eastern Bank

Maureen N. Franco
PRE Commercial

Sean Hagan
Northeastern University

Nicole Iannucci
Denterlein

Jenny Leopold
Community Volunteer

Kimberly Hensle Lowrance

Cynthia Mohr
Literary Enthusiast, Community Supporter, Philanthropist

Joni Lee Rossi
Back Bay Staffing Group

Betty Southwick
Founding Director, WriteBoston

Lucy Stroock

Ronna Tarlow
Corporate ESL Trainer

David Taylor
Former Journalist & Newspaper Editor

Ruth Weinstein
Freshman Fresh Start