Free Creative Writing Workshop for 8th-12th Graders at Los Alamos Teen Center

The New Mexico School for the Arts is partnering with the Family YMCA’s Los Alamos Teen Center to host a free creative writing workshop today, Feb. 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 475 20th Street, Suite C in Los Alamos, with instructor Craig Barnes leading the session. Los Alamos Reporter’s event blurb states, “Instructor Craig Barnes will guide teens through exercises designed to spark imagination and get ideas flowing.”

NMSA’s outreach listing specifies the session is open to current 8th to 12th graders and lists the workshop among its “Upcoming Outreach Workshops.” The NMSA pages display “Registration Open Soon!” and multiple “Register Here!” prompts for the Feb. 28 Craig Barnes session, indicating online registration will be required when the link becomes active. The captured outreach contact information includes a masked email shown as “\protected email\” and three phone numbers: 505.310.4194 ext.112, 505.629.9245 and 505.670.0074.

NMSA frames the effort as part of a broader access mission; its outreach copy reads, “We understand that access to the arts can be challenging, and that all students deserve high quality education. Research shows that an education in the arts improves student outcomes and raises graduation rates.” The outreach materials also state plainly, “NMSA’s Outreach programs bring the arts to you, FOR FREE!”

The Family YMCA’s Los Alamos Teen Center is listed as the host venue; Los Alamos Reporter provides the full address at 475 20th Street, Suite C. The flyer language captured alongside NMSA materials carries a school disclaimer in the exact wording provided: “The Los Alamos Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity promoted in this document. The distribution of this material is provided on and equal basis as a community service. Some fliers/brochures may contain links to external websites.”

NMSA’s February and March outreach schedule captured in the listings shows additional creative writing workshops across northern New Mexico: a Feb. 21 session with Karima Alavi at Moise Memorial Library, 208 S. 5th St., Santa Rosa, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., open to current 6th to 10th graders; a March 14 Craig Barnes session at Northern New Mexico College in Española from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. open to current 8th to 12th graders; and a March 21 Karima Diane Alavi workshop on NMSA’s Santa Fe campus from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. open to current 6th to 12th graders. Each listing repeats the “Register Here!” call to action.

Regional writing supports noted in the captured material include the New Mexico State University Writing Center, which offers free one-on-one tutoring in Clara Belle Williams 102 with hours Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and lists tutors such as Jack Bylund, Gideon Nyarko, Ifeanyi Mordi and Dylan Colvin. The Santa Fe Community College Wri-Gen Series also appears in the capture; its calendar mechanics note that “At the end of the semester participants will have an opportunity to share their work during the final Zoom session on May 6. Registrants will receive a Zoom link via email the morning of each event.” SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye is quoted about that series: “As a librarian, I love seeing people discover their voices through this series. The Wri-Gen Series invites participants into a welcoming, creative space where they can learn from New Mexico writers, respond to prompts, and build confidence in their writing. The closing reading each semester is always moving and memorable.”

The event listings captured do not include a public biography for Craig Barnes, explicit capacity limits, or whether parental permission or proof of grade is required. The Los Alamos Reporter post likewise omits an active registration link. Prospective participants should follow the NMSA “Register Here!” prompt when it becomes active or contact NMSA at the phone numbers listed above or via the masked email shown in the outreach capture to confirm registration, materials to bring, and attendance rules for today’s 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. session.