I’m Alexis, the founder of Self & Story Collective.

For nearly 15 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside children and young people in schools, camps, classrooms, and community programs. Across each of these experiences, I have seen how powerful it can be when children are given the space, encouragement, and tools to express themselves and feel truly heard.
 

I believe every child has a story worth telling and a voice worth developing. I often think about the idea that teachers can become the ghostwriters of their students’ stories—interpreting their ideas, speaking for them, and sometimes unintentionally taking the pen out of their hands. I created Self & Story Collective because I want to help change that. My goal is not to become the ghostwriter of a child’s story, but to give students the tools, support, and confidence to pick up the pen themselves and proudly sign their own names.
 

Through creative writing and storytelling, students are given meaningful opportunities to explore their emotions, experiences, identities, and perspectives in ways that feel authentic to them. When children have the language and creative tools to understand and express what they are feeling, they can better communicate their needs, navigate challenges, build relationships, and make sense of their experiences. This emotional awareness can extend beyond the writing process, supporting positive behavior, stronger engagement, and greater confidence in their academic learning