When I think of a greenhouse, I envision small seeds sprouting roots and then green shoots slowly rising toward the sunlight. The progress to grow may be slow at first but soon becomes rapidly transformational as the plant drinks in the nourishment of the heat, moisture, and sunlight in the greenhouse cocoon.

Our guest this week, Hannah Rose Neuhauser, is the co-founder and program director of The Young Author’s Greenhouse, an organization inspired by the 826 Valencia writing organization for children and teens launched by author Dave Eggers. The Louisville greenhouse, located in the Portland neighborhood, nurtures student writers in an imaginative writing space which includes a storefront called The Opposite Shop where you can find jars of sunshine and magic fish scales. But moving from the Shop through the portal into the organization’s writing center, young writers enter a world where they are taken seriously by mentors who question and instill confidence. One of the coolest programs offered by The Young Author’s Greenhouse is an annual song-writing event with Jim James, leader of the rock band My Morning Jacket, and Teddy Abrams, the young hip conductor of the Louisville Orchestra.

Hannah Rose tells us what book she read in college that inspired her to start this nonprofit journey, what skill is more important than writing for volunteers with the Young Author’s Greenhouse, and what perk of the program can entice even reluctant young writers to put their words on paper.

Books mentioned in this episode:

1- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Online Article mentioned:

TV shows mentioned:

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Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.