ARTS + CULTURE
916 Ink classes through their independent study programs. Zachariah, 19, graduated from high school last year and now volunteers in the Imaginarium classes.“ We weren’ t big writers beforehand, no kids really are. We decided to try the new creative classes and it was some of the most fun we’ ve had in a class,” Zachariah says.
Dominique, 17, is still enrolled as a student in independent study classes at Visions in Education, and also hopes to volunteer with 916 Ink in the future.“ They do so much for their students, they tell us about events and promote other things that have to do with writing and that’ s been really helpful,” she says.
With 18 different workshops running throughout Sacramento, the organization is on its way. McCleary estimates that the program will serve 2,000 students this year, and up to 3,000 next year. Since 2012, an estimated 3,300 area students have been published in 80 books.
“ I think it’ s giving kids a sense of community and helping them find their tribe,” she says.“ The kids who you know it sticks with, this program is in their bones, they’ re writers. Now they have a writing community.” •
Danna Sweidan is a freelancer who writes about travel, arts and culture. She graduated from Sacramento State with a government-journalism degree, and works as an independent travel consultant.
Livi and Domino, two 916 Ink students, attend an Imaginarium writing course in April.
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