Amy Rosenbluth has worked with youth in school and out-of-school time programs since 1991. She created the Youth Leadership and mentoring programs for the Shaker Heights Youth Center and has facilitated Teen Poetry Slams in the Heights area for over 20 years. Credentialed as a 7-12 English teacher and a passionate youth advocate, Amy is co-founder and oversees all operations of Lake Erie Ink. Amy facilitates professional development workshops for teachers and other youth serving professionals and still works with youth on personal narrative and spoken word projects.  She received her BA in English from Hiram College and her teaching certification and graduate work from San Francisco State University. Her training in Bay Area Writers’ Project gave her a passion for and strategies to incorporate writing throughout the curriculum. She believes that all youth have stories that deserve to be heard and uses creative writing as a way to make that happen. Reach Amy at [email protected].

Charisse began writing as a child and continued  into adulthood as a way to self-reflect and invite growth into her daily life. She is a proud Falcon of Bowling Green State University where she spent many days hiding in a corner studying for exams. Eventually, Charisse started developing programs on an 80-acre rehabilitation farm and her journey keeps turning pages. Charisse prides herself in being a renaissance woman, jack of all trades, pull up your sleeve kind of person who is fully committed to community and youth development. Reach Charisse at [email protected].

Cynthia Larsen is Lake Erie Ink’s co-founder and Education Director.  She holds a BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Stanford University and a single subject teaching credential in English and Language Arts from San Francisco State University. Ms. Larsen taught secondary English in Jersey City, New Jersey; Oakland, California; and Cleveland, Ohio before attending graduate school at the University of Arizona, where she received her MFA in creative writing.  Ms. Larsen has facilitated project-based creative writing in collaboration with teachers for over ten years, combining her training in education with her passion for writing.  Ms. Larsen continues to stay abreast of new standards, methods and technology that helps Lake Erie Ink best meet the needs of youth and educators.  At Lake Erie Ink, Ms. Larsen develops and implements creative writing curriculum that supports and meets the educational state standards for English and Language Arts. Reach her at [email protected].