The Second Story Underground

The Second Story Underground: A fundraiser for our program


What: The Second Story Underground
When: 7 p.m., March 13
Where: Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 North Delaware St.
Cost: $8, $5 for students

Two entertaining Indianapolis writers and an eclectic musical trio are supporting the efforts of The Second Story with a fundraiser event this Friday, March 13 at the Harrison Center for the Arts. Young adult fiction author John Green, whose novel Paper Towns debuted at No. 5 on the New York Times best-seller list this fall, will read his work as part of an evening of literary fun complete with live music, conversation and food — as well as beer and wine for those over 21. Fiction writer and journalist Sarah Layden will also share her words. And Tonos Triad, a local classical- and jazz-influenced trio will provide music while the audience mingles. Both writers and the musicians are donating their time to support The Second Story. Our youth-focused educational nonprofit, which recently published a book of short stories about the city written by fourth-graders at IPS School 15, is raising $5,000 to meet a goal for a matching grant from The Indianapolis Foundation. Copies of the book, Hot Baked Cheetos and Other Things We Like About Indianapolis, will be available for purchase at the event. While the event is open for all ages, it is most suitable for teens and above.


Helping at Kaleidoscope Youth Center

We begin on Monday, March 16 at 4 p.m. at Kaleidoscope Youth Center at 4186 Broadway Street. www.kaleidoscopeyouth.org

We'll be doing writers workshop with the kids, stand-alone exercises that generate short pieces of writing each week with the objective of preparing for and then completing a long-term project that will become a small published book.

On March 16, we'll meet at the center at 4 p.m. for a brief orientation with Kaleidoscope and prep for our first lesson before we begin working with the kids at 4:30. The first session will be when we meet the kids, give them a writing attitude survey and do a fun writing activity so we have a writing sample for all. Going forward, we'll meet at 4 p.m. each Monday to prep for that week's lesson and work with kids from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. I'll also send out weekly lesson info in advance via email.

We'll pair new volunteers with experienced ones for the first session or two and we'll also do some outside prep for new volunteers after the first session. We'll work with the students for eight weeks March 16, March 23, April 6, April 13, April 20, April 27 and May 4 -- then we will have a celebration/reading event on the week of May 11. We will be working with 10 students each Monday in grades K-6. We hope to have the same volunteers there each week so we can be paired with the same kid or kids for most or all of the entire eight weeks.


Helping at the Boys & Girls Club in Fountain Square

In late March or early April (we are still working out the exact start date) we'll also begin with a similar after-school program at the Lilly Boys & Girls Club on State Street in Fountain Square. This will be on Wednesday nights from 3:30 until 5 p.m.

Please let me know if you'd like to participate in both or either of these programs.

Volunteer applications for both facilities are attached as well as our volunteer handbook (which is still a work in progress).

Thanks for your ongoing support. And be sure to stop by and say hi on Friday.

Best,

Jim


Jim Walker
Managing Director

The Second Story
1014 Prospect St.
Indianapolis, IN 46203