ForWords

ForWords was inspired by the life of Catie Siegel, a young woman who loved reading and writing and appreciated the extraordinary ethnic, cultural and intellectual diversity of our Northern California communities. Catie was kind and open-hearted, and, in that, gently self-possessed. In the last years of her life she worked at Borders Books, where she could always be found among the words and ideas she so valued. She was discovering, as well, her own voice and strength of character in the poetry and fiction she had begun to put to page. ForWords began as a tribute to Catie, but more importantly it has evolved as a means of opening for other students the world of writing, thought and art, that she had set-out to explore.

ForWords helps our students develop their own unique writing and speaking skills and publish their own writing and other creative work. We work with middle- and high-school students on writing skills and related language arts in all subject areas. Individual student and group workshop sessions are provided on weekdays, during and after school, as well as throughout the summer sessions.

If you go to the Canal area of San Rafael, (where often as many as eight or more persons, including children, will occupy a two-bedroom apartment), you will see a bright joyful wonderful mural created by the students of ForWords Literacy Lab. If you talk to our students they will show you their published writing and their college acceptance letters.

For the past 7 years ForWords has been providing under-served students with enriched literacy programs to help them improve their reading, writing, computation, technology, and presentation skills. Currently we have programs at the Canal Alliance, Mission High School in San Francisco, Walter T. Helms Middle School in Richmond, San Rafael High School and at East Palo Alto Academy.

ForWords Partners
Bay Area Writing Project > www.bayareawritingproject.org
The Canal Alliance > www.canalalliance.org
Education, Excellence & Equity (E3) > www.e3ed.org
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco > www.famsf.org
Precita Eyes > www.precitaeyes.org
The World We Want > theworldwewantfoundation.org/


ForWords works directly with the Bay Area Writing Project at U.C. Berkeley. This world renown project of expert teacher consultants focuses exclusively on training educators in the art of teaching writing. BAWP teacher consultants work with both ForWords students and teachers.
Visit www.bayareawritingproject.org

ForWords partners with E3 founded by Dr. Juan Carlos Arauz. Together we work with at risk students in both marin and west Contra Costa county, who statistically are least likely to graduate from high school. The focus of this partnership is to work with at risk students who statistically are least likely to graduate from high school. Intervention with these students begins in middle school and involves working from a strength based paradigm. The students' teachers attend a summer institute and are provided ForWords' support throughout the school year. The goal is 100% engagement of these young writers.
Visit www.e3ed.org

Based in San Francisco's Mission District, Precita Eyes is the premier center for the design and painting of murals in the Bay Area. ForWords is collaborating with Precita Eyes to create a mural in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael. The mural will be the first of its kind created by the students. Students are also creating a documentary film and book that chronicles the mural-making process from the inception of the theme, to obtaining permission from the city, to involving the local residents, to design and completion of the mural.
Visit www.precitaeyes.org/

ForWords also partners with a number of local businesses and institutions:

Bay Area Bluestone > www.bayareabluestone.com/
Design Communications > descomstudios.com
Dr. Cheryl Ruby and Associates
Enterprise Auto Rental - Novato > www.enterprise.com
First Federal Savings > San Rafael, Ca (directions)
Iron Springs Brewery > www.ironspringspub.com
Marin Airporter > www.marinairporter.com
McKnight Higgins & Associates > www.mcknighthiggins.com