All young people have stories to tell. Yet when children and teens declare that they hate writing or are too embarrassed to admit they like it, elevating their voices becomes challenging. It is urgent that educators, policy makers, youth development workers and leaders, and philanthropists work together to find a way. In the land of free speech, far too many lack the skill to exercise that basic, human, American right. The reasons are complex and systemic, and the resulting reluctance to read and write during free time further widens the skills gap. The good news: taking on this challenge can be life-changing for all involved. In this article, the authors describe how two nonprofits, Goddard Riverside and Writopia Lab, with distinct but overlapping missions partnered to better address the literacy needs of the city of New York's youth. They brought to the partnership a shared vision and radical empathy for the other. They had the support of a steadfast funder. Marrying each organization's reach and expertise, both organizations improved. More importantly, their partnership empowered young people to find joy and fulfillment in writing.