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Julia Young shares the mission of Page 15 with guests at Third Thursday in Parramore | Photo by Ramzy Hicks
Page 15 Spotlighted During Third Thursday Gathering in Parramore
In 2008, Page 15 started as an organization focused on helping young people discover their voice through creative writing, literacy and self-expression. The name itself came from a core memory of its Founder and Executive Director, Julia Young, who shared the inspiration of the name at the most recent Third Thursday Orlando.
“My grandma's rule of thumb when I started a book and wanted to put it down immediately was you had to read to page fifteen before you could put a book down,” Young told the crowd during the event at Interstruct Design + Build. “From that was born the idea that any young person, no matter where they come from, no matter how many books they have at home, no matter their struggles with language, everybody has a story to tell.”
Page 15 was recently spotlighted during Third Thursday Orlando, a recurring community arts gathering hosted at Interstruct Design + Build in Parramore that brings together local artists, organizations, businesses and community members inside the company’s headquarters. Past events have highlighted organizations including The Desire Foundation, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, SALT Outreach, Orange Blossom Family Health and others, but this evening carried a more personal connection for the hosts.
Young is the wife of Ryan Young, CEO of Interstruct Design + Build. As he introduced her and the organization to the crowd of 200 people, his admiration for both his wife and her work was impossible to miss. Fighting through emotion, Ryan spoke proudly about her and the impact Page 15 has had throughout the community and the lives it continues to shape.
Ryan Young, CEO of Interstruct Design + Build gives a heartfelt introduction to his wife, Julia Young, Third Thursday in Parramore | Photo by Ramzy Hicks
Rooted in Orlando’s Parramore community, Page 15 creates programs designed to help children and teens build confidence through writing, storytelling and literacy. The organization offers in-school programs, after-school workshops, summer camps and publishing opportunities that encourage students to express themselves while developing critical communication skills.
Former teacher Amy Vanz, now a Realtor in the Orlando area, said what stands out most to her about Page 15 is the way the organization validates young people through self-expression.
“An organization such as Page 15 is showing value to a child no matter what their age is, no matter where they come from, no matter what they have or what they don't have,” Vanz said. “They're saying, ‘You and your thoughts and your feelings hold value.’”
“We're really trying to help reconnect students with their voice and understand they have power to change their own lives and their communities,” said Alex Smith during the event.
Alex Smith, Programs Manager and Data Engineer at Page 15, talks to guests about the work being done at Page 15 | Photo by Ramzy Hicks
Young emphasized how deeply community collaboration has shaped the organization’s journey over the years.
“Part of our story truly is community and collaboration,” Young said. “We would not be here eighteen years later without partnership, without sharing our stories with people.”
That spirit of collaboration extended into one of the evening’s most creative fundraising efforts.
Page 15 partnered with Assemblage Wine to create a signature wine blend that was sold during the event, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit. The bottles were produced on an extremely tight turnaround after the organization decided to make the wine available for Third Thursday guests.
With help from local printing company StickerPrintGo, custom labels were completed in less than 24 hours so the bottles could be ready in time for the event.
Assemblage Co-Founder Chris Beauchemin briefly shared the story behind the company and why partnerships like this matter to them.
“I look around this room and it's like you've got people from all walks of life, all different backgrounds, all different industries coming together,” Beauchemin said. “That's what we're all about.”
Nigel John | Photo by Ramzy Hicks
Photo by Ramzy Hicks
Event Gallery by Ramzy Hicks
