Podium high school programs are designed not only to develop youth writing skills, but also to instill a genuine love of the written form. The high school programs meet on-site at Richmond public schools weekly or bi-weekly in 1-3 hour increments. During this time, youth are given the opportunity to expand their creative horizons through workshops pertaining to a variety of written forms, including poetry, college prep, and prose writing.
After youth feel confident in the work they’ve produced, they are encouraged to participate in a share-and-critique time in which they may present any piece of art, written or otherwise, on which they have been working. Thus, through these programs, Podium helps to build student confidence, writing proficiency, and comradery between peers of all walks of life.
Podium programs also give students the opportunity to be published in semi-annual ‘zines that are distributed within each program site and the annual literary journal that is distributed across the greater city of Richmond.