STLCC English Professor Selected for Notable Writing Programs
May 19, 2026
Posted by STLCC in News Resources
Ellen Usher, STLCC-Forest Park English professor, was recently selected to participate in two notable writing programs.
Community development nonprofit Invest STL selected Usher as a resident storyteller fellow for the Neighborhood Storytelling Practice, a pilot initiative designed to amplify resident voices, build neighborhood pride and shift how stories about North St. Louis are told and understood. Each resident storyteller will produce a personal or place-based story in the medium of their choice and gain tools to help neighbors uncover and share their own stories.
For the fellowship, Usher's primary focus will be writing narrative pieces, which she says allows her to connect personal experiences, emotion and community through creative work.
Last spring, Usher won Gotham Writing Group's 2025 Writers of Color Screenwriting Scholarship. She is currently taking her first screenwriting class and working on a spec script for the television show The Pitt — a script used by screenwriters to showcase their writing ability and voice. After completing the course, she plans to take a pilot writing class as well.
Usher is also developing an original drama television series set in St. Louis, which makes the Invest STL fellowship particularly meaningful.
"I'm passionate about storytelling that highlights the city's culture, history, and experiences," she said.
