{"id":287613,"date":"2026-05-28T14:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/287613\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:58:15","slug":"meet-the-write-field-the-standout-mentorship-program-developing-youth-writing-skills-in-st-pete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/287613\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet ‘The Write Field,’ the standout mentorship program developing youth writing skills in St. Pete"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For nearly 15 years, The Write Field program has quietly changed lives in St. Petersburg. Launched in 2011 through a partnership between The Poynter Institute and the Tampa Bay Rays, the program was created to help young students strengthen their writing and communication skills while navigating the challenges of adolescence.<\/p>\n

Today, the yearlong mentorship program serves more than 50 middle and high school students, most of them African American and Hispanic youth, helping them discover confidence through storytelling, journalism, poetry, and public speaking.<\/p>\n

Ernest Hooper, a longtime journalist who co-leads the program alongside Demorris Harvey, said it\u2019s an opportunity to share the lessons learned throughout his career with young writers. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs a journalist, I\u2019ve always appreciated sharing writing tips with young students. During my tenure with the Tampa Bay Times, I frequently spoke to students about journalism. This opportunity proved to be a natural extension.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A program built on \u201cSacred Saturdays\u201d<\/p>\n

Hooper and Harvey officially took over leadership of the program in 2016, though Harvey had mentored students since the beginning.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the pair developed a reputation for unwavering dedication to the students and the mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cHumble brag,\u201d Hooper joked. \u201cIn 10 years, we\u2019ve never missed a session. We call them \u2018Sacred Saturdays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those Saturdays have become safe spaces where students can express themselves honestly, often in ways they never imagined.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt The Write Field, we constantly talk about the Power of Writing,\u201d Hooper said. \u201cThrough lessons about various forms of writing, we emphasize how the craft can serve as a tool to untangle those emotional collisions that so often occur during adolescence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond better essays<\/p>\n

The program\u2019s impact stretches far beyond grammar lessons and essay structure. According to Hooper, students improve their writing skills, public speaking abilities, and academic performance. Many also receive help crafting college admission essays.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re most proud about how Write Fielders learn how to express their thoughts,\u201d Hooper said. \u201cThey become lifelong lovers of writing.\u201d<\/p>\n

As students grow older and transition into adulthood, Hooper believes journaling and self-expression become even more valuable.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs many of them transition into lecture halls, long nights and the highs and lows of adulthood, journaling only grows in value,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Addressing a community need<\/p>\n

The program was originally born from concern over the educational achievement gap affecting Black and Hispanic students in St. Petersburg. Hooper explained that community leaders were searching for solutions following a tragic 2011 incident in which a teenager shot and killed a St. Petersburg police officer.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany in the community sought a way to impact the issues,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

Initially, the program focused exclusively on boys. But in 2024, organizers expanded the program to include girls, creating what Hooper called a \u201cterrific dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we added girls, we added Kenya Woodard as a co-leader,\u201d Hooper said. \u201cLike Demorris and I, Kenya is a longtime journalist and communicator.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woodard, who leads the Pinellas County School District\u2019s Journeys in Journalism program, helped bring fresh energy to the classroom environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s done a terrific job sparking the interest of our Write Fielders,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

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Students finding their voice<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most powerful part of the program is the personal growth mentors witness over time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve witnessed remarkable transformations over the years,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

Some students begin in sixth grade and remain in the program through high school graduation. In 2025 alone, nine students completed that full journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those who choose that path, the physical and mental maturation leaves us in awe,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

He recalled watching students evolve from restless middle schoolers into polished young writers capable of producing deeply moving work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen students go from spinning around in their chairs to delivering essays worthy of print in America\u2019s best anthologies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Because students feel safe in the environment created by mentors, many have shared deeply personal experiences through their writing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe topics vary from spiritual revelations, racial reckonings, brushes with the law, overcoming mental health challenges, family dysfunctions, and journeys of self-discovery,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the Power of Writing: the ability to gain clarity through heartfelt prose and poetry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Record growth and big opportunities<\/p>\n

The Write Field program has seen explosive growth in recent years. The growth has been so significant that organizers are now considering capping enrollment at 50 students due to logistics and mentoring capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had more than 60 registered at the beginning of this year,\u201d Hooper said. \u201cThat\u2019s a record number.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students also receive unique opportunities through the program\u2019s partnership with the Rays.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve deepened our relationship with the Rays, who have been terrific lead sponsors,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

The partnership has allowed students to attend baseball games, interview players and community leaders, and even publish stories in the Tampa Bay Times.<\/p>\n

Honoring the team behind the mission<\/p>\n

While Hooper is often one of the public faces of The Write Field, he insists the program\u2019s success belongs to an entire team of mentors and supporters.<\/p>\n

He praised longtime mentors Bailey LeFevre and Matthew Lacombe for their commitment to students over the years. Hooper also highlighted the ongoing support of The Poynter Institute and former program manager Andrew Delong.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of the program\u2019s success would be possible without the steadfast support of the Poynter Institute,\u201d Hooper said.<\/p>\n

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