In pursuit of
knowledge and freedom of expression
Students of all abilities and backgrounds need every possible advantage to reach – and exceed – their goals in life, school, higher education, and careers. The world is becoming more fast-paced and everyone is expected to keep up.
PROBLEM
With multiple distractions and stress in their lives, young people often miss out on opportunities to reach their goals and excel.
SOLUTION
The Know. Whole-child development is our first consideration. Our mission is to support and strengthen students’ abilities with writing and improve social and emotional learning with the arts. Educators and parents come to us to collaborate and ask us to design alternative pathways that enrich learning and meet and exceed the goals of a school Comprehensive Education Program. We challenge students to set personal goals and provide them with coaching, knowledge, and strategies to achieve their goals. We emphasize process, structure and important values: integrity, merit, preparedness, and taking responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions. The result: self-reliant, confident students who write, create, and are powerful communicators.
OUR STORY
The Knowledge Project grew out of the national Children’s Creative Writing Campaign (CCWC), an annual initiative started in 1993 by former journalist, producer, story developer and mom, Margaret Hunnewell. She founded the CCWC because she loved to read, produce stories and wanted more time to learn with her son. Through CCWC, she, with other parents, strategic partners and sponsors motivate children to use their imagination and write.
While working two jobs, Ms. Hunnewell found great mentors to guide her in this endeavor - Richard Sterling of The Writing Project, Nancy Shapiro, former Executive Director of Teachers & Writers Collaborative and Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. Their ingenuities with her values shaped the nascent CCWC, its purpose, programs, coaching approach and set a course for students’ positive achievement. The CCWC maintains a Story Archive of more than 360,000 children’s writing and artwork.
CCWC grew nationally and in 1996, Hunnewell was invited by educators from the NYC School Chancellor’s Office, to produce a citywide K - 12 Writing initiative. She and her team put together a teaching resource publication, In Our Own Write, of best writing practices and student writing. Events were created by her in every borough with celebrities like RUN DMC reading or performing writing from the publication. 110,000 teachers and their students participated in The Writing Initiative The CCWC team became known to school administrators as literacy and media experts capable of integrating writing, media and IT across the curriculum using applied learning. She became an expert navigating the New York education system for her son and on behalf of students of other families. Her belief to play to a student’s strengths works. Her son earned honors in Math and languages in public middle school; served as a leader in high school, and again at West Point. In Engineering, he uses all of his natural and learned assets.
Colleagues, writers, educators, notable, award-winning authors, artists and business people bring their knowledge and talent to each expansion and transition of the CCWC. Keeping the vision pertinent with coaching, they enhance teaching and learning for K – 12 students. Overseeing content and course outlines is our wise program developer, lead writing coach and children’s book writer, Sheila K. Lewis. Offering worldly insights are colleagues like Alan D. Cohen, Global Education Strategist, Futurist; Eric Boscia, Creative Director; Copywriter, Sue Trott; Shakespeare specialist and director, Jose Esquea; Alistair Martin-Smith, former Director, NYU’s Department of Theatre Education; Scientist-Writer, David McMullen; writing coach, Cindy Beer-Fouhy; and Clifford Cohen, founder of AnimAction USA.
The Knowledge Project created the I Write NY initiative in response to the decreasing levels of literacy of Secondary School students across the United States. It is designed to motivate more middle and high school students to master the crafts of writing and effective communication. The organization's objectives, in response to recent Covid-19 restrictions, are to maintain a good sense of normalcy and the human spirit with proactive, intelligent communications. With discernment and knowledge, we wish to enrich the learning of students with engaging in-person and virtual courses led by experienced experts in t. Our goal is to cultivate each student’s strengths; and, guide the next generations of writers, artists, and discerning communicators.
CURRENT INITIATIVES & PROGRAMS
The Know has developed a national creative writing initiative and a wide range of programs to enrich K – 12 academics. Integrated in all our programs is the C.O.R.E. approach: “Create, Organize, Read, Excel,” writing and communication training, mentoring, and work ethic.
I Write NY
Our new initiative is offering middle and high school students many opportunities to earn points as a Word Master, show their talents and be celebrated as writers, be published, and win awards of merit. They will qualify to be part of a small group of New York students selected each semester to be coached by a well-known writer and have the work published.
The Children’s Creative Writing Campaign (CCWC )
The Know has developed a national creative writing initiative and a wide range of programs to enrich K – 12 academics. Integrated in all our programs is the C.O.R.E. approach: “Create, Organize, Read, Excel,” writing and communication training, mentoring, and work ethic.
Fall 2020 Programs
"Personal and Subject Themes" -
Essay Writing Part 1
with author, writing coach and performer, David Tabatsky
"Long-form and College Prep" -
Essay Writing Part 2
with author, writing coach and performer, David Tabatsky
Writing Television Comedy for the Sitcom
with playwright and television spec script writer, Sarah Congress
The Dramatic Monologue: Learning, Writing & Performance
with Actress, Storyteller and Theater Creator, Brittany-Laurelle
Material Matters: Found Objects and Mixed Media Art
with Multimedia Artist, Sadie Sheldon
Music Connections: Parallels and Patterns in Music and Language
with composer/producer and music educator, Baghir Ohlu
Art Movements: Modern Art through the African American Lens
with Haitian American multidisciplinary artist, Virginie Bonhomme
Drawing for Portfolio
with illustrator, cartoonist and muralist, Caro Heisler
The Team in The Know
Margaret Hunnewell
Founder / Executive Director
Former journalist, story developer, producer and production supervisor of motion pictures, television, radio, theater and dance productions. Member of the Directors Guild of America East, NY Women in Film, Theater and Television, NWBA and the Parents Club of West Point. Ms. Hunnewell is a graduate of Bennington College and the Université de Grenoble, France.
Sheila Lewis
Lead Trainer, Grant Writer and Content Developer
Sheila Lewis is a longtime educator, curriculum developer, and author, who has taught students of all ages and trained teachers, mentors, and others in social-emotional learning, writing and literacy, creativity and the arts. Sheila holds an MA in Educational Media from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a BFA from Boston University. Her training in the arts, yoga and mind-body modalities are foundational in her work, whether leading groups or empowering students to do their best. She coaches creative mentors and teachers to integrate their knowledge and learning agility in their work with students.
Susi Tanu
Financial and Office Administrator
Susi Tanu has been working as the financial and office administrator for The Knowledge Project/The Know for 21 years. After coming from Indonesia in 1998, she joined the organization in 1999. She received her BA in Accounting from Atma Jaya University. She maintains the financial records, prepares reports for the Board to review, and does the fiscal budgeting for grants. She has helped The Knowl weather many storms (literally, Hurricane Sandy) and changes in city administrations and the education landscape. She keeps us organized and the office (on-site and virtual) running smoothly.
Sadaf Padder
Program Director & Outreach Coordinator
Sadaf Padder is a graduate of George Washington University (BA) and Johns Hopkins University School of Education (MAT). She spent eight years working in the Baltimore and Brooklyn school system before founding Alpha Arts Alliance, an art collective focused on accessibility and mentorship. She brings into The Know her passion for teaching and mentoring students and a commitment to bringing the arts to every child.
Eric Boscia
Creative Director
Jonathan Silveira
Communications and IT Manager
Jonathan recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Latin American Studies, and a minor in Film and Media studies. He has a creative mind, producing much of the marketing graphic design and video content. He also provides IT support for coaches, students and staff to optimize the use of the online tools available.
Dana Abeln
Senior Social Media Manager
Dana Abeln is a results-driven social media professional with a passion for publishing engaging content to notify parents and reach students interested in learning-to-learn from experienced professionals.