Fostering a Love for Literacy Through Publishing, Exploration & Entrepreneurship

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More than a youth literacy program.

Writing, Publishing, Creative Industry Career Exploration and Entrepreneurship

What we do

NC EmpowerUp is a North Carolina–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through programs that expand educational opportunities, build skills, and connect individuals with essential resources.

Our 8-week camp, Early Scribes, is rooted in national research showing that creative writing can significantly boost reading skills. Through a custom curriculum, middle school students (grades 6–8) learn to harness their unique voices through the art of storytelling, transform their ideas into published works, and discover how to share and market their creations. Along the way, participants meet inspiring guest speakers with lived experience in creative industries, opening doors to future careers connected to literacy, publishing, and the arts.

Early Scribes is ideally suited for students who enjoy writing in any form, whether poetry, short stories, rap lyrics, songs, or imaginative tales, or are simply known for their creativity and storytelling flair. These young voices thrive in a space where their ideas are valued and their creativity is turned into something real.




But the program goes beyond storytelling. Students also receive foundational training in entrepreneurship, forming their own mini-startups to promote and sell their books, giving them a firsthand taste of how creativity can fuel opportunity.

Each session is hosted in community-centered locations and actively promoted through social and media outlets as well as partner organizations. Parents, teachers, and community leaders are encouraged to refer students, and from these applications, a cohort of 10–12 students is thoughtfully selected for each session.

Early Scribes isn’t just a program, it’ s a launchpad for young creatives to find their voices, dream bigger, and step into the future with confidence.




"...if something is challenging to a reader, one of the most accessible paths to overcoming that challenge is through writing."


- Colleen Cruz
Author of teacher titles like "Writers Read Better: Nonfiction" (July 2018) and "Writers Read Better: Narrative & The Unstoppable Writing Teacher."

Creative Writing Curriculum

Advised by a team of experienced educators, our custom writing curriculum is specifically designed to increase reading proficiency. It blends book coaching techniques with the NCDPI Standard Course of Study for English Language Arts aiming to strengthen literacy skills and enhance reading comprehension.

Planning, Writing, Editing, Illustrating

Our publishing experts guide students through every step, from drafting to publishing, resulting in participants leaving as published authors of a book-store-shelf-worthy book.

Creative Career Exploration


Lived experience guest speakers introduce jobs in creative industries that revolve around literacy such as copy writers, illustrators, music and film producers, content creators, and beyond.

Entrepreneurship


This practical training gives young participants real-world skills to promote and sell their book. They learn to protect their work, reach the right audience, price for profit, and handle book orders—building confidence and entrepreneurial experience early on.

"Two-thirds (60%) of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 said they were "likely" to consider starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur as an adult. "


- Junior Achievement USA
 May 2022 Survey of 1000 Teens (13-17)



What our parents have to say...

Hear It from Our Parents:

PROGRAM IMPACT:

After two cohorts completed the camp in Spring and Summer 2025, all participants finished as published authors, achieving the following outcomes:



PROGRAM IMPACT:

After six weeks and 18 hours of instruction, all students in our Spring '25 cohort completed the program as published authors with the following outcomes: 

Literacy

Entreperneurship

Literacy

92%

of the cohort learned new creative writing techniques, which will support their future writing projects and deconstructing text both in and out of school.

50%

of the cohort are currently working on writing projects outside of school or have completed a second book for publication.

79%

of the cohort were introduced to entrepreneurship for the first time, and all students learned how to price their books for profitability, market their products, and manage the logistics of fulfilling orders.

79%

of the cohort have launched their own online book businesses and are actively fulfilling orders gaining hands-on experience in merchandising, customer service, money management, and more.

80%

of the students learned new creative writing techniques, which will support their future writing projects and deconstructing text both in and out of school.

50%

of the students are currently working on writing projects outside of school or have completed a second book for publication.

Entreperneurship

70%

of the students were introduced to entrepreneurship for the first time, and all students learned how to price their books for profitability, market their products, and manage the logistics of fulfilling orders.

100%

of the students have launched their own online book businesses and are actively fulfilling orders gaining hands-on experience in merchandising, customer service, money management, and more.

$600-$800

Cohort members have reported individual sales ranging from $600 to $800 within the first 45 days of their book launch.

14

Youth-authored books published, each written by kids for kids!

*Early Scribes Spring  Cohort 2025 & Summer Cohort 2025, Sales reporting from Spring Cohort 2025

A huge thank you to our main characters whose partnership and support

help make our literary adventures possible!

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