We are a growing group of high school students who are using personal storytelling to overcome tough personal issues, raise awareness about the serious challenges today’s teens face, and connect with other teens to let them know they aren’t alone and that life gets better.
Though this project is being spearheaded at Scriber Lake High School in Edmonds, Washington, we view the We Are Absolutely Not Okay publishing program as the beginning of a grassroots movement that helps teens everywhere claim their power by finding their voice and sharing their stories.
If you are interested in sharing your story on the We Are Absolutely Not Okay Web site or in contributing a story to a future issue of We Are Absolutely Not Okay, please Contact Us.
Program Mentors
Marjie Bowker has taught English and a little history somewhere in the world for the past 16 years: in China, Norway and Vietnam, in addition to her ”regular” spot at Scriber Lake High School in the Edmonds School District just north of Seattle, Washington. A strong advocate of community/student partnerships, she is constantly fostering relationships with community leaders to help enrich the lives of the teens she works with and was recently recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by the local VFW chapter for her innovative teaching/mentorship style. Past awards include two NEH scholarships to study at Columbia University & Crow Canyon Archaeology Center. Marjie has traveled to more than thirty counties and is always on the lookout for creative ways to infuse her love of travel into her teaching career, including leading two trips to Costa Rica to save the Leatherback sea turtles.
Ingrid Ricks is a Seattle-based journalist, author, marketing consultant and mentor who leverages the new world of digital publishing to give at-risk teens and other underserved groups a voice. Ingrid’s essays and stories have been published in Salon, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Advocate and a variety of other publications. She is the author of three books: Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story, a coming-of-age memoir, Focus, a memoir about her journey with the blinding eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa, and A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories, a short story collection. For more information, visit: www.ingridricks.com
