There is a special kind of magic that happens when you combine the power of a young person’s voice with the tools of modern storytelling. In Baltimore, a city brimming with untapped potential and vibrant narratives, we are witnessing a transformative collaboration this summer.
At the Dyslexia Tutoring Program (DTP), our mission has always been clear: to provide professional assessment and individualized tutoring to low-income children and adults who are dyslexic or have other language-based learning disabilities. But literacy isn’t just about the ability to decode words on a page; it’s about the power to share your story with the world.
That’s why we are beyond excited to announce our Summer Publishing Internship, a 5-week intensive partnership with CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth. Together, we’re not just teaching literacy; we’re redefining how the story of literacy is told in our community.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
CHARM is a literary arts organization dedicated to amplifying youth voices. They believe, just as we do, that kids’ voices matter. By providing platforms for Baltimore students to publish their poetry, essays, and artwork, CHARM helps young people develop as writers and leaders.
When DTP and CHARM decided to team up, the goal was simple: take two talented young interns and give them the keys to our digital storytelling. We wanted to see our impact through their eyes. This partnership bridges the gap between research-based, multi-sensory instructional techniques (like the Orton-Gillingham approach) and the fast-paced world of digital media.
Meet the Visionaries: Our Summer Interns
This summer, we are joined by two incredible young professionals who are bringing fresh perspectives to the DTP mission. While we aren’t showing their faces today, their work speaks volumes about their talent and dedication.
- Shawn Ware (Director, Scholar Impact Focus): Shawn is spearheading the narrative from the student perspective. His role is to capture the “why” behind what we do: showing the world how specialized literacy support changes the trajectory of a scholar’s life.
- Ayden Burney (Producer, Tutor Impact Focus): Ayden is focusing on the heartbeat of our program: our volunteer tutors. He is highlighting the dedication, training, and emotional connection that happens when a tutor helps a student unlock the world of reading.
Supported by our Coordinators and our Assistant Director of Outcomes & Impact, Shawn and Ayden are embarking on a journey focused equally on professional development and community advocacy.
The 5-Week Roadmap: From Strategy to Launch
This isn’t just a “show up and post” kind of internship. We’ve designed a rigorous, 5-week curriculum that mirrors a professional creative agency’s workflow.
Week 1: Brand Audits & Strategy
The interns won’t start with cameras; they will start with questions. They will perform a deep dive into DTP’s existing brand, examining how we communicate our eligibility requirements and our success stories. They will help us map out a strategy to make our mission more accessible to a younger, digital-native audience.
Week 2: Field Trips to the Front Lines
To understand the impact of multi-sensory learning, you have to see it in action. In Week 2, Shawn and Ayden will visit two of our key summer partners on the road:
- Camp Jemicy: A renowned program in Owings Mills that uses Orton-Gillingham-based, multi-sensory instruction to help kids minimize summer learning loss.
- Camp Odyssey: A Baltimore-based camp known for its specialized support for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia.
These visits will allow our interns to capture the “aha!” moments: the smiles when a difficult word is finally mastered and the confidence that grows in a supportive, specialized environment.
Week 3: Post-Production & Data Storytelling
Content is more than just pretty pictures; it’s about proof. In Week 3, the interns will focus on “Data Storytelling.” They will look at our Outcomes & Impact data to figure out how to turn statistics about literacy gains into compelling visual narratives. This is where the technical skills of video editing meet the analytical skills of social science.
Week 4: Video Assembly
This is where the magic happens. Shawn and Ayden will be heavily involved in assembling the “Summer of Literacy” Camp Video. They will weave together interviews, B-roll from the camps, and motion graphics to create a flagship piece of content summarizing the spirit of our summer programs.
Week 5: The Grand Launch
The internship will culminate in a massive content rollout. We aren’t just looking for one video; our interns are producing 15+ portfolio posts tailored for TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
Why This Matters: Advocacy Through a New Lens
For many of the strategically-underinvested families we serve in Baltimore, dyslexia can feel like an invisible barrier. Traditional schooling often fails to provide the specialized literacy support these students need to thrive.
By putting young Baltimoreans like Shawn and Ayden behind the lens, we are doing three things:
- Professional Development: We are providing high-level media training and fair wages to local youth, helping them build portfolios that will open doors in the creative industry.
- Destigmatization: Through TikTok and Instagram, our interns are speaking directly to their peers about dyslexia, making it a topic of conversation rather than a source of shame.
- Community Connection: They are showing our donors and partners the real-world results of their generosity in a way that feels authentic and urgent.
Redefining the Narrative
At the end of these five weeks, we will have more than just a collection of social media posts. We will have a new way of looking at our own work. We will see the Orton-Gillingham approach not just as a teaching method, but as a spark for creativity. We will see our scholars not just as “learners,” but as the heroes of their own stories.
We want to give a massive shout-out to the team at CHARM for being such incredible partners. Their commitment to Baltimore’s youth is an inspiration, and we are honored to share this “Summer of Literacy” with them.
Join the Story
The work of Shawn, Ayden, and the entire DTP team is only possible through the support of our community. Whether you are interested in becoming a tutor, enrolling a student, or making a donation to keep these programs running, you are a vital part of this narrative.
Keep an eye on our social media channels over the coming weeks to see the incredible content our interns are producing. Let’s make this a summer where every voice in Baltimore is heard, and every word is a bridge to a better future.