Principles of Architecture

LitShop provides after-school and summer programming that pairs engaging literacy opportunities with building and making. By intentionally creating a supportive space where girls* can take risks, explore creatively, build skills, and connect with other girls, LitShop fosters leadership and confidence our girls can use through adolescence and early adulthood. LitShop empowers adolescent girls* to build solutions to community problems with real tools and their own ingenuity. Our girls* engage in joyful literacy, sharing relevant and engaging books with peers while building lifelong reading habits. At LitShop, girls* can be the architects of their own stories and the crafters of their own messages. We encourage girls* to work together and lift each other up in support of their goals and aspirations. The LitShop community seeks to reflect the rich diversity of St Louis, where girls* can learn from women of all walks of life and all voices are valued and honored. **LitShop is an inclusive space that has an expansive definition of “girl”. If you define yourself as a girl at any time: cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-confirming youth, genderqueer youth, then you are welcome at LitShop.