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