Janelle R.

Creative Writing and Poetry

• I have had one of my short stories published in a textbook for middle and high school students
• I ran a student literacy club twice a month for two years for elementary school students.
• I ran an adult writing circle twice a month for two years.

Janelle Naomi Rouse is an educator, writer, and creative facilitator who uses storytelling and artistic practice to help young people explore identity, imagination, and critical thinking. Born in Washington, D.C., Rouse has spent over a decade working in education while cultivating spaces where writing becomes a tool for self-expression and community dialogue. Her creative work includes a published short story in Conjuring Worlds: An Afrofuturist Textbook for Middle and High School Students, a collection that invites students to imagine new futures through Afrofuturist storytelling. Rouse has also facilitated community-based writing spaces in Brooklyn, New York, including a Saturday literacy circle for elementary school students and a two-year creative writing circle for adults at the Remy Rouge Culture Center. Through book clubs, writing workshops, and creative literacy programs, Rouse invites students to experiment with language, explore speculative and imaginative storytelling, and reflect on their lived experiences. Her approach blends creative writing, cultural exploration, and reflective dialogue to support young people in developing their voices as thinkers, storytellers, and creators. She partners with schools and youth programs to lead engaging book discussions and creative writing experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and imagination.