This summer, young writers at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence picked up their pens, opened their imaginations, and discovered the power of telling their own stories through the 2026 Slice of Bread Loaf summer writing program.
Held from July 6 through July 17, the two-week program invited Club members to explore writing and self-expression through hands-on workshops, guest artists, field trips, art, music, theater, and more. This year’s theme, “We’ve Got History!,” encouraged participants to recognize that their own experiences, families, communities, and voices are all part of the stories worth telling.
Throughout the 10-session program, members had the opportunity to learn from a different group of writers and artists while exploring new ways to express themselves.
The first week began with guest artist Yankee Duran, followed by Yaneris Collado and Harlym 125. Members also stepped outside the Club for experiences designed to spark creativity, including a visit to deCordova Sculpture Park and a field trip to Andover Bread Loaf.
During the second week, participants continued developing their writing alongside Slice Writing Leaders, guest artist Nikki Garcia, and Jordan Schuh. Another field trip brought the group to the Addison Gallery of American Art, giving members yet another opportunity to experience storytelling through a different creative lens.
While writing was at the heart of the program, Slice of Bread Loaf was about much more than putting words on a page. Each workshop and experience gave members an opportunity to think creatively, share ideas, listen to one another, and grow more confident in expressing what matters to them.
For young people, being told that their stories matter can be powerful. Programs like Slice of Bread Loaf create a space where members can experiment without fear of getting everything “right,” learn from professional artists and writers, and discover that writing can be a way to reflect, connect, imagine, and make their voices heard.
After two weeks of creating, writing, revising, and preparing, the program culminated in the Family Night Final Reading Celebration on July 21.
Throughout the program, members’ writings were brought together into a special book showcasing the work they had created over the course of the two weeks. At Family Night, that collection took center stage as members shared and read their writing with their families and the Club community.
It was an opportunity for members not only to see their work in print, but to hear their own words come to life in front of an audience. Families were able to celebrate the creativity, effort, and individuality reflected on every page while showing young writers that their voices were worth hearing.
The celebration represented more than the end of a summer program. It was a chance for members to stand proudly behind something they had created and to see their writing become part of something lasting — a collection of stories, reflections, and ideas that captured this moment in their lives.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, experiences like Slice of Bread Loaf are part of our commitment to providing young people with opportunities to discover new interests, build confidence, express themselves, and learn from people and places beyond the classroom.
And if this summer reminded us of anything, it is that every young person has a story to tell — and when we give them the space, encouragement, and tools to tell it, something special happens.
Their stories become part of our history.
Explore Their Stories
The writing created throughout this year’s Slice of Bread Loaf program lives on in a special collection featuring the work of our participating members.
Flip through the digital book below to read their stories, reflections, and creative pieces and experience the voices that made this summer’s program so special.
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Learn More & Get Involved
Interested in learning more about the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, our programs, or ways you can get involved and support our mission? Reach out to Sarah Hogue, Director of Development, at (978) 683-2747 ext. 128 or shogue@lawrencebgc.com, or Kristen Vadala, Assistant Director of Development, at (978) 683-2747 ext. 122 or kvadala@lawrencebgc.com to learn more about how you can make an impact.