Deep Center uses writing, art, and culture to fuel the creative fires of Savannah’s young people, helping them connect their learning to their lives, their lives to their communities, and their actions to transformational change. We also work with adults in their village to make sure youth are seen in their full humanity, and to identify and advocate for administrative and legislative policies that make Savannah a safe place for all young people and their families.

In collaboration with adult writers, artists, and mentors, Deep youth learn how to tell their stories powerfully, celebrate their neighborhoods, elevate Savannah’s forgotten narratives, and find their place in history and current events. When this happens, they gain agency as learners, artists, and community leaders able to speak out on the issues affecting them and their families. And in collaboration with Deep’s youth leaders, adults in their village learn how to step back, listen, and work from the healing-centered paradigm when supporting young people.

Since our founding in 2008, Deep Center has supported more than 3,800 young people with fully funded scholarships to our creative-writing, arts, and leadership programs, and we’ve published more than 100 anthologies of youth work, trained more than 270 local writing mentors, hosted live readings reaching diverse audiences of 10,000, and shared Savannah’s stories around the nation.

Our Stories Matter 2021

By Deep Center

Our Stories Matter 2021