Love to read? Love to read a lot? Lucky for you, it’s BOGO time at WritersCorps! Now through January 5, buy one get one free at our online bookstore. This sale only happens once a year, so fill up your shopping cart.

Pick up a copy of our acclaimed San Francisco travel guide “City of Stairways” or snag a copy of “Tell the World” autographed by Sherman Alexie. For teachers in your life, may we suggest our book of lesson plans, “Jump Write In”? Start browsing our online store here. And remember, all proceeds support our free student programming.

WritersCorps is holding our first ever Pen Pal Meetup and Open Mic. Students from our sites have been writing letters to each other this fall to get to know youth who go to different schools. The meetup will feature a variety of activities, including a hip hop writing workshop, a holiday card making workshop, and the chance to read their work during our open mic hour. There will be prizes and refreshments. And you don’t even need a pen pal to attend.

When: December 6, 2011, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Where: San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove), Children’s Creative Center, 2nd Floor

Cost: Free

Public Transit: Civic Center BART and Muni Metro J, K, L, M, and N lines

Local illusionist Christian Cagigal, photo by Julie Michelle.

Teens are in for an exciting evening at the Contemporary Jewish Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. on November 22! In conjunction with their Houdini: Art and Magic exhibit, they are putting on this special event especially for young people. Youth can step into the gallery to witness original artifacts from Houdini’s death-defying stunts and the legacy he inspired. Then they’ll experience the dark fables and close-up magic of Obscura, an interactive show full of mystery and illusion brought to you by local illusionist Christian Cagigal. Or you can chill in the lounge while watching acrobats and enjoying popcorn and cotton candy. For more information, go here.

WritersCorps is proud to present a series of posters on San Francisco’s Market Street featuring writing by three of our students. “Love Poems to the City by San Francisco Youth” will be on display at Muni bus shelters from November 2011 to spring 2012. Featuring poems by youth ages 16 to 20, the posters were designed by San Francisco-based graphic designer Adrienne Aquino.

See all of the posters here.

We are also producing a limited-edition card set based on the poster series. All proceeds from the sale of the cards and our other products go towards our free student programming. See them in our store here.

Congratulations to the 2011 winners of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards! In a White House ceremony this morning, First Lady Michelle Obama honored 12 programs from across the country with the award for their excellence in after-school programming. To learn more about the 12 programs, click here. To watch the ceremony and hear the First Lady’s remarks, click here.

We are excited for this year’s winners, and glad to know of so many excellent colleagues working in the field of arts and humanities education. Last October, we were at the White House to receive this award. It was definitely a day to remember for the rest of our lives.