Children’s Book Writer (Volunteer)

About the role

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a youth-centered nonprofit dedicated to supporting students ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability in New York City. Through mentorship, social-emotional learning, academic enrichment, and creative expression, we create safe, consistent, and empowering spaces for young people to grow, thrive, and succeed. We believe every child deserves a promise kept — and we work every day to make that promise real.

Key Responsibilities

• Write original children’s stories that reflect MAP’s mission of hope, mentorship, and resilience
• Collaborate with MAP’s creative writing and education teams on story themes and formats
• Develop age-appropriate narratives for children ages 5–12, with diverse characters and inclusive themes
• Provide drafts and revisions in collaboration with editors and program staff
• Contribute to potential publications, readings, and literacy campaigns connected to MAP’s programs
• Support creative writing workshops by sharing insights into the writing process

Requirements

• Strong background in creative writing, children’s literature, or storytelling
• Able to create engaging, age-appropriate, and inclusive narratives
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Commitment to MAP’s mission and values
• Willingness to share work for use in nonprofit programming and literacy initiatives

Preferred Skills

• Experience publishing children’s books, short stories, or educational materials
• Familiarity with themes of resilience, housing instability, or mentorship in storytelling
• Illustration experience (not required, but a plus for picture book projects)
• Experience teaching or mentoring youth in creative writing or literacy programs

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunity to create meaningful stories for children experiencing instability
• Collaboration with a mission-driven team of educators, mentors, and writers
• Hands-on experience in nonprofit publishing and youth programming
• A chance to see your work published, performed, or shared through MAP’s platforms
• Lets of letters of recommendation and professional references for future opportunities

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

For any additional questions or concerns, please email us directly at hr@mentorapromise.org