ABC Spring Workshops

This spring, in addition to continuing our after-school tutoring and in-school projects, ABC will host a number of new workshops.  SAT Prep will be offered Wednesday evenings at 6pm from 2/11-3/11, open to 10th-12th graders. The last sunday of every month, beginning 2/22, we'll offer Writing about Music, a fun, creative workshop for 3rd to 5th graders, with the best of the student writing going on to be published in the Austinist. We also continue to host a Book Group for Teen Girls, ages 13-16, on the first Monday of each month. After spring break, stay tuned for more details about Hip Hop Poetry (Saturdays 3/28-4/11, 6th-8th graders) and Making a Literary Journal (featuring staff of Bat City Review, Sat. 4/18.) More workshops may be announced in the coming weeks, so check back in!

Podcasts

This August, some ABC students worked with Paige Normand at the Computer Writing and Research Lab at UT to create podcasts based on their own writing.  Check them out!

ABC Tutoring Center

Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, ABC offers free one-on-one tutoring to all interested students between the hours of 3:30-5:30.  Just email abc1on1tutoring@gmail.com to make an appointment.  In your email, request a 30 min or 1 hour tutoring slot by Friday of the preceding week.  Se habla espanol. 

Fall 2008 Workshops

Our fall workshop roster has been released!!  Email austinbatcave@gmail.com to get signed up today.  Here are the workshops:

   -Screenwriting/Filmmaking.  Plot, film, and edit a movie with your filmmaking partners and instructors.  This workshop includes a field trip to the Austin Film Festival and free student festival passes!  Saturday afternoons, 1-4pm, 10/4-10/25.  (On field trip day, 10/18, hours may vary.)  In partnership with Austin Film Festival.  FREE.

   -College Essay Writing.  Learn what college admission departments want to see, learn to craft your story.  Wednesday evenings, 10/15-11/12, 6-7:30 pm.  FREE.

 

All workshops will be held at ABC HQ, 1807 w. 11th Street, unless otherwise noted.  Please contact us with questions or to get signed up!

Summer 2008 Update

This July, we held a free, week-long summer program at our new space, serving 32 kids.  Based on the feedback of students, parents, and volunteers, the week was a great success.  Our collaborators included Texas Monthly, the Blanton Museum of Art, and a diverse group of local screenwriters, playwrights, poets, and authors.  A magazine-style anthology is in the works!

We also hosted a podcasting workshop in August.

 

This fall, expect big new things from ABC... an after-school mentorship program, offsite work in the communities that need it most, and an expanded and ever-dynamic calendar of workshops. Stay tuned!

New Web Site

Thanks to the assistance of Decoder Ring and Dalton Publishers, ABC will be unveiling a new, dynamic website during the coming months.

Board of Advisors

Spike Gillespie

Van Jordan

Richard Linklater

James Magnuson

Steve Mobley

Naomit Shihab Nye

Deborah Paredez

Evan Smith

Board of Directors

Doug Dorst

Michael Evans

Lyman Grant

Malcolm Greenstein

Shaun Jordan

Karen Olsson

Heidi Penix

Kodi Sawin

S. Kirk Walsh

Simone Wicha

Director

Mike Agresta

Program Manager

Alana Levinson-Labrosse

Sponsors

Austin Community College

Women & Their Work

Austin Film Society

Dalton Publishers

Decoder Ring Design Concern

Home Slice Pizza

Independence Brewing Co.

Target

Contact

512.524.1489

P.O. Box 4762

Austin | TX | 78765

austinbatcave@gmail.com

ABC Finds a Home

In June 2008, we found a great temporary space for our writing center and administration offices at 1807 w. 11th Street. While we are still looking for a long-term space that will serve both as a storefront and a writing center, in the meantime our Clarksville center will welcome writers and learners of all ages. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to Austin Bat Cave. Thank you!

Volunteers

Are you a writer, teacher, dreamer, do-er, designer, entertainer, storyteller, or CPA? We are always looking for people to lead or be involved with writing workshops. Drop us a line.

Wish List

1. -Large-scale copier with service plan supply retailers, art stores and bookstores
   

2. -Color printer/fax/scanner/copier (4-in-1 or separate)
   

3. -Laptops/PCs running Windows 2000 or later with MS Office
   

4. -Digital projector
   

5. -Digital camera
   

6. -Binder clips
   

7. -PA system(basic microphone and speakers or more…)
   

8. -Dimmers for lights in learning space
   

9. -Beanbag chairs and floor cushions
   

10. -Archaic/interesting/wacky curiosities for front space
    

11. -Bat signal (slide/transparency projecting lamp with very tight focus to shine on opposite wall)
    

12. -Toy bats to hang from ceiling
    

13. -Large dictionary w/ short podium
    

14. -Frequent flier miles, gas cards, gift certificates, stamps
    

15. -Printer paper
    

16. -HP35a laser toner, Epson 69 color ink, Sharp SF-235NT1 copier toner
    

17. -Composition books (hardcover preferred)
    

18. -Healthy prepackaged snacks, juice boxes, water bottles
    

19. -Arts and crafts supplies
    

20. -Fastback binding machine, DIY book binding supplies, letterpress services/access, etc.
    

21. -Kids' magazines (educational/creative)
    

22. -Porch/patio furniture
    

23. -Stamps
    

24. -Envelopes
    

25. -Dry erase boards and/or markers
    

26. -PDAs/cell phones
    

27. -Blank CDs and DVDs
    

28. -Copy paper
    

29. -Wine for readings/benefits
    

30. -Bus/multi-passenger van
    

31. -Leads on discounted commercial real estate near under-served schools