↔ Resumen del proyecto en español
🙋🏽♀️ Frequently Asked Questions / Preguntas frecuentes
ℹ️ From Roots to Stories invites storytellers, artists, and community members with Indigenous roots from Abya Yala and Latin America to help shape Bili, a bilingual app for children ages 3–8 celebrating heritage languages and cultures. This initiative builds a growing library of children’s stories reflecting Indigenous experiences in the Latinx community.
| Our four-month cohort program features mentorship, cultural consultation, and publishing support to develop original bilingual/trilingual children’s stories. **Apply here - see details below.** |
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From Roots to Stories is a four-month virtual experience that will run from November 2025 to February 2026 and includes three components: **Monthly Writing Club, Monthly Peer Coaching, and Story and Illustration Guides (**see table below for details).
The program offers emerging Indigenous storytellers and artists hands-on guidance to craft original children’s stories in their indigenous languages. Participants will build skills in writing and/or illustration, taking their stories from idea to publication whilst being supported by cultural mentorship and peer connection.
At the end of the experience, authors will have a completed children’s story with the possibility for publication in the Bili app (with compensation, recognition, and full rights retained) or elsewhere, including self-publishing. This is more than a writing program - it’s a movement to preserve and uplift Indigenous voices for future generations.
| ✏️ Monthly Writing Club | 👤 Monthly Peer Coaching | 📄 Story and Illustration Guides |
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| Meet virtually each month from November 2025 to February 2026 to write in community and receive feedback and guidance tailored to your story. |
📅 Writing Club meets the following dates, from 6:00-7:30 PM ET:
November 12 December 10 January 14 2026 February 11 | Connect monthly with a peer or small peer group to exchange ideas, share progress, and share/receive feedback.
📅 You will schedule a monthly time with your peer coach. | Receive practical, culturally grounded guides to help shape your bilingual or trilingual story and illustrations on your own time. |
Join the From Roots to Stories team to learn more about the program at our Info Session/Introductory Workshop. We will also discuss the basics of writing and illustrating children’s stories, with a focus on indigenous narratives of Abya Yala/Latin America. Attendance at this session is not required for admission into the cohort program. This session is free and open to the public, and will take place on:
Are you ready to bring your story to life? Apply now to join our inaugural From Roots to Stories cohort. We are only accepting 8 participants, so we encourage you to apply early!