Director of Creative Writing (Volunteer)

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.

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Director of Creative Writing (Volunteer)

PromisePages | Creative Writing Department

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type Volunteer

Reports To Chief of Content & Storytelling

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, education, social-emotional learning (SEL), creative expression, publishing, and community-based programs. At MAP, creative expression is essential to learning, healing, and identity development.

Writing is not treated as an extracurricular activity—it is a core pathway to literacy, self-understanding, and empowerment.

About PromisePages | Creative Writing Department

PromisePages is MAP’s creative writing and literary development department. It leads youth writing programs, publishing initiatives, editorial development, and narrative projects that elevate youth voice while upholding ethical, trauma-informed, and dignity-centered storytelling standards.

PromisePages bridges literacy development, creative practice, and public storytelling—ensuring young writers are supported, protected, and celebrated at every stage of their growth.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director of Creative Writing to lead the vision, structure, and quality of MAP’s creative writing initiatives within PromisePages. This senior leadership role sets the creative and pedagogical direction for youth writing programs and oversees alignment across education, publishing, and storytelling efforts.

The Director works closely with the Chief of Content & Storytelling, Education leadership, Publishing teams, and Program Directors to ensure writing initiatives advance literacy, SEL goals, and ethical storytelling practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the creative writing philosophy and standards across PromisePages initiatives
• Oversee youth creative writing programs, workshops, and literary projects
• Ensure writing spaces are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessible
• Collaborate with Education and SEL leadership to align writing with learning goals
• Partner with Publishing and Editorial teams to guide narrative quality and integrity
• Support youth voice, identity development, and authorship across programs
• Guide facilitators, editors, and contributors through clear creative frameworks
• Establish review, feedback, and quality assurance processes
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
  
  

Qualifications

• Experience in creative writing, literature, publishing, or writing program leadership
• Strong understanding of youth-centered and trauma-informed writing practices
• Experience developing or overseeing writing programs or editorial initiatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to mentor writers and collaborate across disciplines
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience in nonprofit education, youth arts, or literary organizations
• Background in poetry, fiction, memoir, journalism, or hybrid literary forms
• Experience working with editors, educators, or teaching artists
• Familiarity with culturally responsive and identity-affirming pedagogy
• Experience supporting distributed creative teams
  
  

Commitment

• Volunteer senior leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Fully remote with optional NYC-based collaboration
  
  

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience shaping youth-centered creative writing at scale
• Direct impact on youth literacy, voice, and storytelling power
• Collaboration with executive leadership and creative teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• A meaningful role advancing ethical, dignity-centered literary work
  
  

How To Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant creative writing or literary leadership experience and interest in MAP’s mission
  
  

For any additional questions or concerns, please email us directly at hr@mentorapromise.org

Help cultivate stories that restore voice, imagination, and dignity—so young people can write themselves into possibility.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.