This event will showcase the internship project of Romaine Murchison, a Strategy Intern at Leaders Unlocked.
Romaine devised and developed Take the Lead Stories, a pilot project during which he worked with a diverse group of young people via a series of writing and mentoring workshops. This project supported talented unpublished writers to develop compelling, inspiring, and relatable stories for other young people and young adults to read.
Young people often feel their stories are overlooked, that their voices are ignored or unvalued, and that they can’t see themselves or their lived experiences represented in existing print or digital publications. Take the Lead Stories sought to change that narrative. Working with Romaine, the group developed story telling skills and writing prowess. Each story is personal and important to the young person who wrote it. Each story is brave, empowered, proud.
“Empowered through writing; writing to freedom” – a Take the Lead Stories young writer
During this event, the project lead and some of the young writers will present Take the Lead Stories first digital publication. Romaine hopes there will be many more to follow. It is his ambition and vision for the next stage of this project to roll out this creative learning opportunity. He is keen to develop partnerships with organisations supporting young people who have yet to find their voices. He aims to see Take the Lead Stories publications available in the places where they will have most impact - in schools, colleges, young offenders institutions and youth groups.
