Reflections from a member of the Creative Youth Collective on how a book transforms a reader, and in doing so, the story itself continues to evolve. SFMOMA, March 2025
One of the greatest joys of this work is the relationships that grow from it. Watching young writers and artists find their voices, chase their passions, and bring their stories into the world is incredible—but what makes it even more meaningful is the way those connections continue long after their projects are finished.
Years ago, I had the privilege of mentoring a young photographer and writer, Anna, from the time she was 10 through her high school years. With the unwavering support of her family, she built a creative practice that wove together storytelling and environmental advocacy. Now, she’s studying photojournalism at the Corcoran School of Art and Design at the George Washington University, continuing to follow that path in ways that feel both inevitable and extraordinary.
A Free Little Library filled with books authored by the Creative Youth Collective!
This week, I was deeply moved to learn that Anna’s family just installed a Free Little Library—and filled it with books from the Creative Youth Collective. To me, it was such a powerful gesture, one that perfectly captures what this work is really about: creativity that builds community, stories that keep traveling, and relationships that last.
It’s a reminder that the story doesn’t end when a book is finished—it grows, it circulates, it finds new hands.
And on that note, I want to leave you with a beautiful thought that a young writer in the Creative Youth Collective shared at our Community Share at SFMOMA earlier this month. In our discussion of A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader—a stunning collection of love letters to books, libraries, and the act of reading—he reflected on how a book transforms a reader, and in doing so, the story itself continues to evolve. Take a listen.
With endless gratitude and boundless hope,
Kathryn
