Writing with At-Risk Youth

This book describes a specific program for teaching and mentoring expressive writing by at-risk youth-a program that can generate transformative change in the teens, and generate significant new satisfactions for you. When young people write personally and creatively, it helps them to overcome challenges in their lives. They feel better, think more clearly, are more self-confident, and are better able to relate to others, including their helpers. This personal creative process is enriching and enlivening for everyone. It brings emotional clarity and meaning to everyone. It brings closeness, in addition to learning and growth.Welcome to the Pongo Teen Writing Method.

Richard Gold, M.A. of Seattle founded the Pongo Teen Writing Project, a nonprofit that offers unique therapeutic poetry programs to adolescents who are homeless, in jail, or in other ways leading difficult lives. In its 17 years, Pongo has worked with over 6,000 teens. The Pongo web site contains writing activities for distressed youth and resources for teachers: www.pongoteenwriting.org. Prior to founding Pongo, Richard was managing editor of Microsoft Press. In 2010, Richard was named a Microsoft Integral Fellow, honored for his work with Pongo, by Bill and Melinda Gates and the Microsoft Alumni Foundation. A book of Richard's illustrated poetry, The Odd Puppet Odyssey, was published in 2003. In this book, the character Pongo is a puppet who struggles awkwardly with becoming human, until he aspires to compassion.