Andover Bread Loaf
Andover Bread Loaf’s mission is to promote literacy and educational revitalization through the lens of social justice in the most under-resourced communities and school systems around the world, particularly in US urban communities and public schools.
Through multi-modal literacies, ABL collaborates with youth and adults to support grassroots, democratic, social action movements that enable them to transform themselves, their communities, and their educational systems.
At the heart of ABL is the Writing Leader program. ABL Writing Leaders are youth, trained in democratic pedagogies who work with other youth leaders to create, staff, and lead workshops and programs. The Writing Leaders are powerful educators and community activists, inspiring other youth and adults to love writing and to use it as a form of self-expression and community transformation.
Andover Bread Loaf 2020 Program Report
Writing to Change the World Brochure
If you have questions about making a gift to Andover Bread Loaf, please contact Beth Parsons at 978-749-4523.
ABBOT ACADEMY FUND AND ANDOVER BREAD LOAF
In the fall of 2019, the Abbot Academy Fund awarded Andover Bread Loaf a grant to extend our work in Puerto Rico. As with the other grants AAF has awarded ABL, this one came at a key moment in our history. The grant will give a tremendous boost to ABL Puerto Rico, whose mission is to spread ABL pedagogies throughout the island.
The history of ABL and AAF dates back to 1985-86, when English Department colleagues, Jean St.Pierre, Elwin Sykes, and Lou Bernieri received AAF grants to develop the Phillips Academy outreach program that would be launched in 1987 as “Andover Bread Loaf”.
Since that launch, AAF has supported ABL programs that are flourishing nationally and internationally in some of the most under-resourced communities around the world. In 2004 AAF supported the creation of the Lawrence (MA) ABL Writing Leader program, a program that trains Lawrence youth to be teachers and civic activists. Over the years, ABL Writing Leaders have not only changed their own academic and professional trajectories, but have also offered writing and arts workshops for youth and professional development programs for adults in 8 states and 4 countries. In 2010 and 2013, AAF supported ABL Haiti, which brought a dozen Haitian teachers to ABL’s summer program. In partnership with these teachers, who have spread ABL pedagogies in their schools, ABL Haiti ran an international conference in Port-au-Prince in 2014 and is planning another international conference for August 2020.
ABL staff and students are deeply grateful for the support AAF has given us over the decades. Our history has been intertwined with AAF since ABL was just a dream that three English Department teachers had over 30 years ago.
2019 ABL Summer Writing Workshop
Teaching Honor for ABL Director
Read an article about Lou Bernieri, recognized by Honored.org as their August 2019 outstanding educator. "Mr. Bernieri was monumental in helping me to discover my voice ... he changed the way I thought about myself, my community, and my education."
Spring 2019 Newsletter
Read the full PDF.
Ford Foundation Next Generation Leadership program
Networked Youth In the Public Square. Read the Executive Summary.
Bread Loaf Teacher Network Journal
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The first ABL program was launched 28 years ago in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This successful literacy education program is now the anchor for ABL—and the model for similar initiatives in other cities across the country and around the world.