Writers and Artists Across the Country

“In a perfect world, all schools would be able to host authors and other creative artists. Luckily, our less-than-perfect world has organizations like WAAC.”

- Erin Entrada Kelly

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Mission

WAAC—Writers & Artists Across the Country—is a nationwide network that facilitates author and artist visits to under-resourced K-12 schools and provides free books for all participating students. Author and artist visits can change children’s lives, yet they rarely occur outside independent schools or well-resourced public school districts. WAAC knows firsthand that personal interaction between children and creators fosters literacy, promotes empathy, and enriches global citizenship.

Data supports the results: By introducing under-resourced students to authors we create engaged readers; by supplying them with free books we strengthen education.

In a survey of educators who hosted a WAAC author:

98% said students had an increased excitement about books after their WAAC visit.

89% said students had an increased interest in writing and sharing their own stories after their WAAC visit.
73% said the book their students received from WAAC was the first book some of their students ever owned.

WAAC has organized visits for over twelve thousand students across the country— providing each with the opportunity to meet an author or illustrator and get their very own book. WAAC has worked with communities in over 40 cities and towns in 18 states with authors like Angie Thomas, Erin Entrada Kelly, Veronica Roth, Tahereh Mafi, Grace Lin, and Tomi Adeyemi.