Though we are based in Chicago, the Midwest region of the U.S., it is critical to our mission that high school students everywhere believe that their voices are vital to our success.
For every one of the hundreds of students who submit their work to us, there is a story. Some are writing from between worlds, some cross cultures, some are trying to hold on to their culture while adapting to another, some are on the move, some are exiled, displaced, some are completely and comfortably at home, and some are looking for a place to call home.
Your personal narrative, where you live in the world at any given time should never limit the reach of your voice. Whether you live down the street from us in Chicago, across the country in Texas or Washington, whether you’re living in exile, fear, comfort, or constraint, your voice is not only wanted here, but also necessary. In a world where it often feels that refuge is rare, we want to be a harbor you can count on.
“There are boundaries everywhere that divide us, but it’s also true that we’re living under the same blanket of air and stars. We want poetry and prose and art from young human voices that capture everything between the impregnable boundaries and the borderless sky.”
A Note on Translations & Voice
As we’re completely dedicated to the writer/editor collaborative model and most of our editors are native English speakers, we do require all submissions to be written in or translated into English before they’re submitted. We do ask that as much care goes into the English translation as the original work. If your piece is a translation, we’ll consider publishing the original alongside the English.
A couple of things to keep in mind:
• There are many compelling reasons to have a line or two of your work in another language, though, and if this is the case with your work, please just include a translation of that section.
• If English is your second or third language, we hope you feel entirely welcome to share your work. Perfect textbook American English is not required. It’s often the case that great lines come from those whose language is not constrained by the conventions of American or British English.