and Story Time. Previously existing programs were adapted so that students could meet with their mentors virtually and create stories via Zoom (software).Young Storytellers is planning to return to in-person programming beginning Fall 2021. Young Storytellers' Values You Belong “Originality and individuality are things to be celebrated. We serve young people and adults by cultivating an open community where everyone gives of themselves and speaks fully from their unique perspectives.” People Connect “Genuine connection between people requires empathy and sensitivity. The respect and honesty needed to connect is a fundamental element of everything that we do.” We Explore “Being vulnerable and inventive requires a supportive environment. Young Storytellers fosters exploration of the self and the world in which we live, while empowering our community to tell their stories.” Everyone Plays “Play with a purpose allows participants to engage with wonder and investigate their world. This is how we remove roadblocks to creativity and build a more whole collective.” Volunteers Programs are run by volunteer Head Mentors and volunteer Mentors. Mentors in the Script to Stage Program work one-on-one with a student for the duration of the nine-week program to create a screenplay and the resulting screenplay is then performed by a volunteer performer. There are currently over 2,500 volunteers in Los Angeles serving 1,200 students in 60 schools. Funding The organization received grants from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association multiple times. In 2013 the organization was represented by Olivia Wilde and received a portion of the $1.6 million in grants given by the HFPA that year. 2016 in the amount of $10,000. In 2015, the organization received a grant from the $4.5 million given to the Los Angeles arts scene from Michael Bloomberg Philanthropies. Jane Fonda's, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential, has also provided funding. Partnerships March 2017, Young Storytellers partnered with Disney to give a group of students early access to see the live action version of Beauty and the Beast These students then created their own stories based on the film. Then, in collaboration with Tongal, an independent creative network, the students’ stories were turned into live action and animated short films. In February 2018, a group of Young Storytellers students were invited to a special premier of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time and given the opportunity to create and then share stories based on the film. Disney then turned these stories into either short films