April often feels like a threshold for me. 

We are still inside the work of the school year, yet we can sense what is beginning to shift. Classrooms are fuller with ideas and fatigue. Projects are taking shape even as time feels compressed. There is a quiet negotiation happening between what has been sustained and what is still possible. 

In that spirit, I have been sitting with poetry this month. 

For National Poetry Month, I want to share an excerpt of “Remember” by Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose work often reminds us that transition is not rupture, but movement with memory: 

Remember the earth whose skin you are: 
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth 
brown earth, we are earth. 
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their 
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, 
listen to them. They are alive poems. 
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the 
origin of this universe. 
Remember you are all people and all people 
are you. 
Remember you are this universe and this 
universe is you. 
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you. 
Remember language comes from this. 
Remember the dance language is, that life is. 
Remember. 

This poem feels like an instruction for this moment. To remember that even as we move forward—toward the close of a semester or school year, toward summer, toward new questions—we are not beginning from nothing. We are carrying stories, practices, relationships, and ways of knowing that have been built together over time. 

At the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, this is the work we continue to deepen: writing as a way to notice, to remember, to make meaning, and to move ideas into the world with care and intention. 

As you move through the rest of this month, I invite you to stay engaged with the WPWP community: 

And as always, please reach out. If you have ideas, writing to share, questions, or possibilities you want to explore, we want to hear from you. This network continues to grow because of your presence, your thinking, and your willingness to write alongside others. 

With care and appreciation, 

Dr. Khirsten L. Scott 

Director, Western Pennsylvania Writing Project 

As always, thank you for taking the time to receive and review this newsletter. We are grateful to be in community with you. Feel free to share this information with others.

If you have any updates, ideas, and/or concerns, we’d like to hear from you. Email us at wpwp@pitt.edu.

At the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, we continue to create meaningful, community-engaged professional development opportunities that position our fellows as leaders, designers, and facilitators of learning across contexts. Our ongoing partnership with PittEnrich, a program within the Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program supported by the University of Pittsburgh Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, reflects this commitment in action. 

PittEnrich is a Homewood-based initiative that combines in-school tutoring with Saturday enrichment experiences, offering elementary students sustained support in reading, math, and broader learning through engaging, hands-on programming.  Rooted in Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments, the program is designed to both support youth learning and create reciprocal opportunities for university and community collaboration. 

Within this space, WPWP fellows bring a distinct contribution: writing as a tool for reflection, connection, and meaning-making. This spring, Fellows Jen Salvatore and Tammy Rullo led three dynamic sessions, supported by our interns Jamese Platt and Julia Oshiro. Their work created opportunities for participants to engage writing not simply as a skill, but as a way to process experience, build community, and extend learning across settings. 

This partnership reflects what we value most: supporting educators as leaders, expanding what professional development can look like, and building sustained relationships where writing moves with and alongside community. 

You can read more about their work and the impact of these sessions below. 

We were honored to join the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English for their recent Poetry Slam, held at Beaver Area Junior Senior High School. Our director had the pleasure of serving as a judge, and it was a powerful reminder of the depth of creativity, care, and commitment across our regional writing community. 

It was especially meaningful to support not only our WPWP fellows, but also the many teachers, coaches, and young writers and poets who brought the space to life. We listened to an incredible range of performances, each one reflecting the courage, voice, and craft of student writers. 

We were honored to join the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English for their recent Poetry Slam, held at Beaver Area Junior Senior High School. Our director had the pleasure of serving as a judge, and it was a powerful reminder of the depth of creativity, care, and commitment across our regional writing community. 

It was especially meaningful to support not only our WPWP fellows, but also the many teachers, coaches, and young writers and poets who brought the space to life. We listened to an incredible range of performances, each one reflecting the courage, voice, and craft of student writers. 

What stood out most was the vibrant presence of WPWP fellows across the event, serving as organizers, hosts, coaches, and supporters. This photo captures just a few of those who were present, including fellows Amy Bouch, Carol Aten Frow, Jess Hill, Katie Katkich, Heather Bixler, and Amy Firmani. 

Moments like this are a testament to the work of our teacher leaders who are showing up across schools, communities, and professional networks to create spaces where writing matters. 

Thank you for all that you do. Let’s continue to share the work, the moments, and the opportunities where we can support and connect with one another in meaningful ways. 

📍 Where: Center for Urban Education, University of Pittsburgh
📅 When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 5 - 7 p.m.

Join the WPWP and WPCTE for a special evening writing retreat with Patricia Park! This retreat will be a master class on Patricia Park’s YA novel focusing on craft, analysis, and creative writing exercises. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book. 

Dinner will be served at 5pm . All are welcome! 

📍 Where: University of Pittsburgh - Oakland Campus
📅 When: June 22 - 30, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

We are excited to announce registration for YWI 2026 is open! YWI will take place on weekdays from June 22 – June 30, with a closing ceremony held on July 1. Registration is open to rising 5th-11th graders. Visit the WPWP website to learn more about this year’s theme. 

There are 5 or less spots currently available in each age group. Register now!

📍 Where: Carnegie Museum of Art
📅 When: May 21, 2026 from 5 – 7:30 p.m.

In this ongoing participatory series we will deepen our understanding of the ways in which the construction of race and our racialized experiences impact our teaching and learning communities. Together, we will engage with art, literature, writing, and group conversations with artists and guest speakers. 

Carnegie Museum of Art is pleased to partner with the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project to make this program possible. These free workshops will be held at the museum and we’ll provide dinner and waive the parking fee for all participants. 

To register for a workshop email teachers@carnegieart.org. Place your name and the date of the workshop in the subject line.

📅 When: August 3 - 5, 2026 
📍Where:Charlotte, North Carolina

Registration is now open for the third annual Joint Conference for Elementary Literacy and Mathematics, hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Are you interested in attending the event on behalf of WPWP? Please let us know at wpwp@pitt.edu

‼️ Applications Due: April 25, 2026 
Air Live on May 2, 2026 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Submit to the contest, be a live-show host, or both! 

Calling all teens! Join us for a new program at SLB, Streaming the News. Students in Grades 6 to 12 with an interest in reporting, journalism, or hosting are invited to participate. More information can be found on the SLB website.

SLB Radio Summer Camps offer students one-of-a-kind experiences at the SLB Youth Media Center, including opportunities to learn new skills, get creative, make new friends, and have their voices be heard. Camps are centered on project creation, designed to help all students to walk away with original audio projects to share with family, friends, and SLB Radio listeners.

This opportunity is available to students aged 12-18. More information can be found in the flyer and on the SLB website.   

Registration is now open!

If you have an event or opportunity to share with the WPWP community, let us know! We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter. 

We are continually enhancing our communication methods by addressing any gaps in contact information. Please complete the contact form below if you haven’t already. We encourage you to share it with others who might be interested in re/connecting with the WPWP network.