Think like a reporter: Out of the mouths of kids come great ideas at Elaine’s – Alexandria, VA

From Kindergarten to College: Inkandescent Kids magazine is helping students think like reporters — to think critically, thoughtfully, and never be afraid to ask too many questions!

An invitation from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, InkandescentKids.com

It is an honor and a privilege to welcome you to Inkandescent Kids magazine, a project inspired by my two kids.

Anna, now 30, was one of 600 students to get into Virginia Commonwealth University’s Arts program. She grew up to be a photographer/videographer who owns her own business that specializes in celebrating families through photos (AnnaGibbs.com). Dylan, 27, attended the University of Virginia’s architecture school and graduated from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design last May. He now works for a prominent firm in New York City.

With my editor Ellen Smith — a special ed teacher, author, and homeschool mom of two daughters — we are on a mission to work with kids around the world to actualize their dreams by teaching them to think like reporters.

“I wish I had a resource like Inkandescent Kids magazine when I was young,” says Ellen, who recently penned her third novel. “It would have given me the outlet I needed to learn how to share my thoughts and ideas.”

Here’s how our InkandescentKids project works:

• Let us publish your work: It’s just $3 to submit an article, photo, illustration, video, game, or puzzle. Our grown-up editors will review the work, and if it fits our guidelines, we will publish it in our online magazine and give you a byline (first name and the state where you live).
• Join our staff of student journalists: If you’d like to work with us on a regular basis, you can take our classes that will train you to be an InkandescentKids.com reporter, photographer, illustrator, editor, or to be part of our online newsroom. (Classes start at $150.) Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible for assignments to work on our cover stories that include interviews with ambassadors, politicians, authors, artists, diplomats, scientists, and more.
• And there’s more: InkandescentKids is also working on creating a slew of kid-friendly events from student art exhibits and concerts to national mural exhibits, publishing their books, connecting parents and grandparents in our Parent Corner, working internationally to build bridges around the world, and projects we haven’t yet thought of.

Our dream: We are on a mission to inspire and support students in their creative journey to maximize their potential and expand their vision and view of the world. If we can’t make the world a better place — we know they can.

Celebrate the magazine’s first birthday with us: We invite you to join us on August 8, noon to 4pm, at Elaine’s Literary Salon (208 Queen Street in Alexandria, VA) — the spot where we host our grown-up literary events (www.ElainesLiterarySalon.com) and meet more than a dozen children’s book authors, student artists and musicians, a cooking demonstration with a chef from Elaine’s restaurant, and more!

Get your free tickets to the celebration here! We’ll see you on Aug. 8 at Elaine’s Literary Salon! Bring your friends!