IFTIN INK INITIATIVES
Story-anchored circles for personal narrative-based creativity, well-being, and leadership
About the program
Iftin Ink Initiatives is the programming arm of Iftin Ink, a Seattle-based emerging independent press dedicated to publishing meaningful, authentic stories across categories, with a focus on children’s fiction.
Iftin Ink Foundation is in development as an independent nonprofit dedicated to community-based, impact-driven programming. Once established, it will become the home of Iftin Ink Initiatives and operate in partnership with Iftin Ink.
After publishing A Song of Her Own, Saida Bulhan, author and founder of Iftin Ink, began engaging directly with children and families through community-based programming, including author readings and other engagements. What she found there is where this program began.
“When I read A Song of Her Own with young readers, their interest in the story and how they relate to it stand out to me. When they learn that I didn’t learn to read until I was a teenager and that I’m now a published author, they become curious about me too. I watch kids start sharing their own stories and naming what they could do, something many rarely have space to pause and recognize.
I noticed a real scarcity of these types of spaces. I wanted to give young readers more room to keep discovering their own stories and creativity. A short author reading could open that door, but it could only go so far. So I built the space myself.
And the interesting thing about sharing my own story is that it isn’t only its uniqueness that moves them. From years of teaching personal narrative-based creativity and leadership, I’ve learned that what resonates most is sharing openly after doing the deeper work yourself. I’m excited about the opportunity to empower people and grow a wider circle of practitioners who bring more authenticity and creativity into their lives and the work they do in the world.”
— Saida Bulhan, Iftin Ink founder and author of A Song of Her Own
Iftin Ink Initiatives exists to fill that need by creating a long-term home for culturally responsive work in personal narrative-based creativity, mindfulness, and leadership development. This matters especially now, as young people navigate a world of constant conflict and crisis alongside an increasingly complex digital life. The work offers an immersive practice focused on finding inspiration in everyday life and creating alongside others in intentional, physical spaces away from screens.
As Iftin Ink continues to grow, the vision is to open future circles to collaboration with more artists and facilitators.
What every circle includes
Participants are guided through tailored programs that explore personal narrative-based creativity and culturally responsive well-being. The programs offer tools to discover their own stories, inner strengths, and authentic creative practices. Later sessions turn that discovery outward into something participants help lead.
Circles may incorporate age-appropriate mindfulness and grounding practices that support reflection, presence, and connection. Expert practitioners participate when the program design and participant needs call for their involvement.
During the pilot phase, Story Sparks Circles, Emerging Leaders Circle, and Leadership Activation Circle are offered at no cost or on a sliding scale, depending on available funding.
We combine grants, sponsorships, and partner contributions to keep the circles accessible to participants and host communities.
Each pilot includes multiple in-person sessions offered weekly or every other week, depending on scheduling needs. Follow-up sessions continue over the next six months. The goal is to learn from each cohort, support participants as they grow, and explore how the circle can continue long term within its host community.
Each circle below shares this foundation and adapts it to its own age group and format.
Our circles
Story Sparks Circles
Ages 6 to 10 and Ages 11 to 13
Story Sparks Circles are grounded in A Song of Her Own, the book that inspired the program. Designed for children of elementary and middle school age, Story Sparks is offered in two age-based circles for ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 13. Personal narrative-based creativity and leadership are woven throughout, helping children connect what they read to their own lives, ideas, and imagination in ways suited to their stage of development. They practice authentic self-discovery through attention to the culturally specific, ordinary, and physical world around them.
Story Sparks can also be hosted in school and after-school settings as a structured circle adapted to the participating age group.
Launching fall 2026
Emerging Leaders Circle
Ages 14 to 17
A creativity, well-being, and leadership circle for teens. Participants move through guided personal narrative work, then take the lead themselves, designing and carrying out a small group leadership project within the circle grounded in their strengths and interests.
Emerging Leaders can be hosted by schools, after-school programs, and community organizations seeking a sustained experience in creativity, culturally responsive well-being, and leadership for teens.
Launching fall 2026
Leadership Activation Circle
Ages 18 to 24
A leadership and creativity circle for young adults, grounded in the belief that transformative leadership starts from inner strength. Personal narrative and creative work open into real attention to whole-person well-being, and participants design and carry out an individual or group project in their own work, school, or community setting. A book club runs alongside, building ongoing engagement with story and community around how it inspires participants’ work in the world.
Launching winter 2027
Express interest in one of our circles, as an organization or school, or as an individual applying for Leadership Activation Circle (ages 18 to 24)
Custom Circle
Now in pilot phase
For organizations, schools, and community groups looking for a shorter introduction to this work, Custom Circle offers the same foundation as our other circles in a flexible format built around your timeline and audience. It brings together personal narrative-based creativity, culturally responsive mindfulness, and leadership. Unlike our other circles, Custom Circle is open to any age group, including multigenerational audiences, and tailored to your organization’s specific needs.
For participants in elementary and middle school, A Song of Her Own is available as an optional reference text.
Custom Circle is a paid offering, separate from our cost-free and sliding-scale pilot circles above. Pricing is based on your organization’s capacity and program design, and we are committed to keeping this accessible for organizations with varying resources.
Saida Bulhan teaches Custom Circle directly for now, with additional facilitators planned as this offering grows.
Workshop scheduling opens in mid-September. Fall requests will be assessed case by case ahead of a full rollout in early 2027.
Why circles
The circle itself carries meaning here. In A Song of Her Own, Kiin’s most important moments happen around the bonfire, where a culture’s wisdom gets passed on simply through being present and listening to one another. Many cultures hold their own version of this, and that same interconnectedness, creativity, and trust is what we’re building into every circle here.
Who we work with
We work with schools, after-school programs, community organizations and groups, and public spaces serving youth and families.
Our circles launch in King County and serve youth from all backgrounds, while centering young people from communities historically underserved by the arts or facing barriers to culturally responsive creative and well-being programming.
As Iftin Ink Initiatives grows, we envision expanding beyond King County.
Every circle is designed from the start to grow into a lasting offering within its host community, not end when its initial series does.
Funding partners
Culturally responsive programming grounded in lived experience and community trust can create meaningful opportunities for children, youth, and families. We are building a lasting model designed to grow within the communities it serves.
Funding partners help make these circles accessible to participants and host organizations and support their continuation beyond the initial pilot.
Funding can support program delivery, books and creative materials, well-being practitioners, community partnerships, follow-up sessions, and continued program development.
We welcome funders and grantmakers interested in supporting culturally responsive youth programming centered on story, creativity, well-being, and leadership.
Community host partners
Iftin Ink Initiatives partners with schools, after-school programs, community organizations, and other youth- and family-serving programs to bring each circle to life.
Interested in sponsoring a circle during the pilot phase?
During the pilot phase, from fall 2026 through winter 2027, community organizations, schools, and groups may also choose to sponsor a circle. Sponsorship can support a full circle, multiple circles, or a shorter Custom Circle designed for your own audience.
For host organizations, sponsorship means contributing toward program costs in addition to providing space. We are committed to keeping programming accessible and will work with organizations of different sizes to find an option that fits their budget and needs. If you are interested in sponsoring a program, please note that in the Community Host Interest form below.
Stay connected
More program details and partnership announcements are coming soon. Sign up for updates below to hear about new circles, community events, and ways to get involved as Iftin Ink Initiatives grows.