This spring, The Library Foundation again brought its signature Badgerdog Creative Writing Program to branch libraries across Austin — free and open to all. The series offered workshops for adults, teens, and tweens, meeting communities where they are and lowering every barrier between a curious writer and a welcoming room.
In January, the teen series kicked off at Windsor Park Branch Library in Northeast Austin, where award-winning poet, clinical social worker, and creative writing teacher Sara Bawany led “Writing to Change Hearts” — a poetry workshop that quickly became something more than a class.
Sara created a thoughtful, developmentally attuned environment where a small group of teens gradually opened up, sharing personal experiences and meaningful creative work. Participants explored how to balance emotional honesty with craft, using tools like metaphor to connect with an audience. Each teen engaged at their own comfort level — some sharing completed poems, others reflecting aloud on their creative journeys. By the end, every participant had deepened their understanding of both writing and themselves.
As one teen shared, “I got the opportunity to share and talk with peers and this helped reignite my interest in writing. It was nice to have a place to write and talk about writing and then experiment with different kinds of writing.”
Stories like this one are why The Library Foundation invests in Badgerdog year after year.
As the official fundraising partner of the Austin Public Library system, the Foundation makes it possible to bring free, high-quality creative writing experiences to teens, tweens, and adults throughout the city — helping writers of every age build confidence, find their voice, and remember why they write in the first place.
