05/30/2026
Meet ‘The Write Field,’ the standout mentorship program developing youth writing skills in St. Pete
May 28, 2026 • By Kaylen Ross
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.
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.
Ernest Hooper, a longtime journalist who co-leads the program alongside Demorris Harvey, said it’s an opportunity to share the lessons learned throughout his career with young writers.
“As a journalist, I’ve 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.”
• A program built on “Sacred Saturdays”
Hooper and Harvey officially took over leadership of the program in 2016, though Harvey had mentored students since the beginning.
Over the years, the pair developed a reputation for unwavering dedication to the students and the mission.
“Humble brag,” Hooper joked. “In 10 years, we’ve never missed a session. We call them ‘Sacred Saturdays.”
Those Saturdays have become safe spaces where students can express themselves honestly, often in ways they never imagined.
“At The Write Field, we constantly talk about the Power of Writing,” Hooper said. “Through 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.”
• Beyond better essays
The program’s 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.
“We’re most proud about how Write Fielders learn how to express their thoughts,” Hooper said. “They become lifelong lovers of writing.”
As students grow older and transition into adulthood, Hooper believes journaling and self-expression become even more valuable.
“As many of them transition into lecture halls, long nights and the highs and lows of adulthood, journaling only grows in value,” he said.
• Addressing a community need
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.
“Many in the community sought a way to impact the issues,” Hooper said.
Initially, the program focused exclusively on boys. But in 2024, organizers expanded the program to include girls, creating what Hooper called a “terrific dynamic.”
“When we added girls, we added Kenya Woodard as a co-leader,” Hooper said. “Like Demorris and I, Kenya is a longtime journalist and communicator.”
Woodard, who leads the Pinellas County School District’s Journeys in Journalism program, helped bring fresh energy to the classroom environment.
“She’s done a terrific job sparking the interest of our Write Fielders,” Hooper said.
• Students finding their voice
Perhaps the most powerful part of the program is the personal growth mentors witness over time.
“We’ve witnessed remarkable transformations over the years,” Hooper said.
Some students begin in sixth grade and remain in the program through high school graduation. In 2025 alone, nine students completed that full journey.
“For those who choose that path, the physical and mental maturation leaves us in awe,” Hooper said.
He recalled watching students evolve from restless middle schoolers into polished young writers capable of producing deeply moving work.
“We’ve seen students go from spinning around in their chairs to delivering essays worthy of print in America’s best anthologies,” he said.
Because students feel safe in the environment created by mentors, many have shared deeply personal experiences through their writing.
“The topics vary from spiritual revelations, racial reckonings, brushes with the law, overcoming mental health challenges, family dysfunctions, and journeys of self-discovery,” Hooper said.
“That’s the Power of Writing: the ability to gain clarity through heartfelt prose and poetry.”
• Record growth and big opportunities
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.
“We had more than 60 registered at the beginning of this year,” Hooper said. “That’s a record number.”
Students also receive unique opportunities through the program’s partnership with the Rays.
“We’ve deepened our relationship with the Rays, who have been terrific lead sponsors,” Hooper said.
The partnership has allowed students to attend baseball games, interview players and community leaders, and even publish stories in the Tampa Bay Times.
• Honoring the team behind the mission
While Hooper is often one of the public faces of The Write Field, he insists the program’s success belongs to an entire team of mentors and supporters.
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.
“None of the program’s success would be possible without the steadfast support of the Poynter Institute,” Hooper said.
