Ruby Gutierrez ’25 Empowers Youth Through Creative Writing
Senior Ruby Gutierrez combined her passions for creative writing and education in a transformative REAL Program experience teaching marginalized students in Los Angeles to explore their identities and express themselves through literature.
By Kate Vander Vort
Last summer, Ethnic Studies and English double major Ruby Gutierrez ’25 developed an initiative through the REAL Program focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through creative writing. Ruby partnered with educators at her old middle school, Dolores Mission School, in Los Angeles to develop a learning community where youth can explore their identities beyond traditional academic spaces.
“Previous research that I had done for my Community-Based Research Methods course examined the importance of creative forms of expression for youth of color,” Ruby explained. “That work reinforced the strong need for the development of comfortable and welcoming spaces for youth to engage in critical reflection and creative expression. I wanted to build on that work by creating one of those spaces.”
Ruby has always been passionate about writing, as reflected in her English major and Creative Writing minor, and deeply committed to giving back to her community through education, as shown by her Ethnic Studies major and Urban Education minor. Through her initiative, she was able to combine both interests and learn from youth through literature. To begin the program, Ruby recruited fifteen students from fifth to eighth grade who have demonstrated an interest in creative writing. The sessions taught students how to read and write poetry, write and worship their writing, develop their identities through literature, and had time built in to build a sense of community among students.
Each week, Ruby taught lessons on a designated topic of discussion, during which students could workshop their ideas and reflect on the material. “The students were much more resilient than educators give them credit for,” Ruby shared. “They were stuck in a traditional education mindset where they only knew how to write when it was prompted or to get a good grade." However, by the end of the program, she notes the students were “happy to read and write for fun.”
Ruby recalls one of the most memorable stories written by one of the students was an emotional piece focused on a teenage boy going through a hard time who was feeling isolated and unheard at school. “Most of the stories [students wrote] reflected their personal struggles, which they did not know how to write about through traditional classroom assignments,” Ruby explained. She reflected on how these stories not only showcased the students' creativity but also highlighted the importance of self-expression through literature.
As part of the REAL program, Ruby incorporated a research component where she talked with students at its start and conclusion about how creative writing impacted their learning. She asked questions about how effective the program was, how they viewed writing, and if they would pursue creative writing courses in the future—all of them said yes. She also shared that many of them felt they had become better writers in all areas due to the practice of creative writing. She plans to incorporate her findings into her Honors Program senior thesis as she wraps up her last year at SA国际传媒.
Ruby’s initiative solidified that she wants to work with education and youth in the future. After she graduates, she plans to attend graduate school to earn a masters in public administration. She hopes to continue making an impact for marginalized communities through a career in policy and advocacy.
About the REAL Program
The REAL Program provides paid experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Developed to allow students to discover their interests, gain a rich understanding of a particular field, discern their career goals, and explore future employment fields, the program has distributed roughly $2.8 million to more than 730 students across all majors since its inception in 2018. Placements range from non-profit and community service organizations to research labs, governmental organizations, and beyond.