Overview A 4-day Online Intensive with Lectures, Discussion, Discovery, & Read Alouds This workshop is designed to bring LGBTQIA+ creators and allies together to craft picture books with clear LGBTQIA+ themes. You will learn to create books that celebrate joy, respect, and appreciation for children in today’s world, showing beauty and strength in our rainbow […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night Retreat Professional & Personal Development for Educators, Librarians, Storytellers, & Publishing Professionals. Build the skills you need to analyze children’s books for meaningful representation, reader engagement, visual literacy, and more. This is an in-person workshop at our Retreat Center with presentations, implementation plans, book talks, and time to meet informally with fellow literary advocates and […]
Overview Application-Based Online Program for Muslim Storytellers This application-based, in-community program has been created to invite new Muslim voices into the children’s book industry through a multi-week, online course. This program is funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation through its Building Bridges Program. The Building Bridges Program supports national efforts, working with […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is for writers and illustrators from the Latinx Diaspora. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects, plus a celebration of community, sharing ways to amplify and support Latinx voices. This is an in-person retreat for Latinx creatives who currently (or […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is designed to bring to LGBTQIA+ creatives together. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects with room to celebrate and cultivate the joys of this community! Hosts Jas Hammonds and Rob Costello will lead informal evening activities. Special guest Antonio […]
Overview In-person 4-Day/3-Night, In-Community Retreat This in-community retreat is designed to bring to Jewish creatives together. Days are for your personal projects and to connect with fellow Jewish writers and illustrators who care about creating authentic books for children and teens. This is an in-person retreat for Jewish creatives who currently (or wish to) write […]
CALL FOR INTEREST IN 2024 MUSLIM STORYTELLER RETREATS at THE HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION RETREAT CENTER May 22 - 25, 2024 or September 5 - 8, 2024 Experience an in-community retreat designed for Muslim storytellers. Applicants will receive full lodging and meals, along with a $300 travel stipend. This immersive experience offers a supportive space […]
Join us for a Q&A webinar about attending in-person programs at the Highlights Foundation in 2024. It's a great session to attend if you've never been to a program on our campus before and would like to learn more about what to expect, or if you have questions about which options might be right for […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Writing about mental health is about both the impact for our readers, and the experience of our writers. How do we translate our lived experiences while keeping our youth audience centered? Join middle grade novelist Crystal Allen and young adult author and pediatric neuropsychologist Katie Keridan to consider what it […]
Join this 3-night/4-day writing retreat designed for authors who are crafting books for kids and teens that center their lived experiences in areas of trauma, mental health, grief, and beyond. About the Program We believe there is hope in harnessing the transformative power of storytelling. Explore therapeutic writing techniques that enable you to create narratives […]
This 4-Day/3-Night in-community symposium engages in the rich and important discussions of what it means to grow as Jewish writers, tending to our Jewish joy with care, intention, and faith. There will be ample time for your own work and community building throughout this program. This is an in-person symposium for Jewish storytellers and professionals […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Picture books can be filled with Pride! Join celebrated authors Lesléa Newman and Rob Sanders for this short course designed to bring LGBTQIA2S+ creators and their allies together to study the craft of picture books, and build confidence to create picture books with LGBTQIA2S+ characters and/or themes. The two […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Young adult readers love horror novels–they are safe spaces to explore humanity's fears. For many queer and questioning readers, YA horror is a safe space for much more. Join young adult authors Anna-Marie McLemore and Rob Costello for this short course for writers looking to create space in their horror and […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course As authors, educators, and professionals who bring story to kids, we have a real responsibility to nurture a love of reading in both ourselves and the young minds we influence. In fact, both are extremely intertwined. Join us for this two-night mini course that offers professional development practices in […]
Join this 3-night/4-day in-community retreat thoughtfully hosted by Sona Charaipotra, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, and Katie Mazeika. About the Program Join us for an in-community retreat tailored for neurodivergent writers and illustrators, where you can fully embrace your perspectives and talents in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Connect with storytellers and make progress on your own work. […]
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course As literary stewards we know that Social and Emotional themes are important in KidLit. As humanitarians, we know that what impacts one human, impacts all. As children's book writers, how do we navigate the space between the human story and emotional themes with care and hope? How do we […]
Join M. García Peña, NoNieqa Ramos, and Alex Villasante for their fifth annual, in-community retreat designed exclusively for Latinx writers and illustrators. About the Program This 3-night/4-day, in-community retreat is the space where you can ignite your creativity and forge connections with a diverse and supportive community of fellow storytellers in the Latine Diaspora. This […]
Join this 3-night/4-day, in-community retreat thoughtfully designed to bring LGBTQIA2S+ creatives together. It is an informally structured retreat where the focus is on your own projects with room to celebrate and cultivate the joys of this community! About the Program Experience our in-community Rainbow Retreat that warmly welcomes queer and questioning authors and illustrators who […]
Join hosts Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence and fellow storytellers for this in-community retreat where much of the time is for your own creativity.
Overview A Two-Night Mini Online Course Writing about mental health not only impacts readers—offering them hope and honesty—but also deeply affects the personal experiences of writers. The writing process, for example, creates space for healing and sharing lived truths. But how, then, do we authentically reflect mental health stories, while keeping young audiences in mind? […]
