In Brief
Yulu played a pivotal role in creating the Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle, a community program designed to elevate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices through a culturally brave, six‑month mentorship program. Now entering its fifth consecutive year, the program has become a proven model for building career momentum, visibility, and community among emerging Indigenous authors. Yulu continues to manage and evolve the program – recruiting mentors, producing workshops, and sustaining an alumni network – while pairing program design with in-person community connection points to drive long-term impact.
At‑a‑Glance
Client: Audible
Sector: Social Impact Program / Brand Purpose
Challenge: Build a credible, culturally brave program that creates real career pathways for underserved Indigenous writers in Canada
Strategy: Landscape + stakeholder research; mentor recruitment; six‑month curriculum and workshops; alumni network; earned media
Services provided: Impact program design and management; stakeholder and rightsholder engagement; content development; workshop development and hosting
Services Provided
- Impact program strategy and design
- Impact program management
- Stakeholder and rightsholder engagement
- Mentor recruitment and program operations
- Workshop production and hosting
- Content development
- In-person community engagement
- Measurement and reporting
What Challenge Were We Solving?
Audible’s mission is to improve the lives of those with less privilege wherever it operates. As its Canadian audience grew, Audible Canada asked Yulu to identify persistent social challenges – and the communities most affected – to build a platform that offers meaningful access and opportunity to underserved audiences nationwide.
How Did Yulu Design a Culturally Safe Mentorship Model?
- Research and listening first: six months of landscape review and rightsholder‑informed interviews across themes including affordable housing, mental health, clean water, and Indigenous rights.
- Activate Caring: aligned with Audible’s global commitment to “Activate Caring,” engaging internal and external stakeholders to define principles for a credible, community‑benefiting program.
- Program architecture: a six‑month curriculum with mentor matching, editorial coaching, publishing workshops, and space for lived‑experience storytelling.
- Alumni infrastructure: ongoing support beyond graduation to sustain relationships, confidence, and industry pathways.
What Changed for Participants and the Industry?
- Career momentum: participants signed book deals, secured literary representation, and published original works.
- Practice and community: 70 workshops with 39 acclaimed Indigenous literary artists, experts and mentors created peer networks and long‑term collaboration.
- Visibility: The emerging writers and the program’s model were featured across Indigenous‑led and national outlets, amplifying stories and breaking down access barriers.
- Program durability: now in its fifth year, the Writers’ Circle serves as a meaningful, helpful and brave community space for Indigenous writers, grounded in First Nations, Métis and Inuit leadership.
Results & Impact
- 100+ emerging Indigenous writers supported (four cohorts)
- 18+ participants published works (e.g., In the Hands of Men by Gin Sexsmith, ‘23 cohort)
- 70 workshops delivered by 39 acclaimed Indigenous literary artists + experts
- 84 media features totalling 105,401,443 impressions
- 1,200+ mentorship and training hours delivered
- Connected with 130+ national and community-level Indigenous organizations to drive program awareness
Credibility – Selected Media and Partners
Media highlights:
- CBC Books: Audible launches Indigenous Writers’ Circle program
- Vancouver Sun: Cortes Island journalist turns focus to novel-writing with help of mentorship program
- CTV News: Rich with perspective – Writing program mentors emerging Indigenous authors
- CBC News: Alberta authors find their voice in Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle
2025 Mentors:Richard Van Camp, January Rogers, Tanya Talaga, Josh Whitehead, Reneltta Arluk, Warren Cariou, Jordan Abel
“Yulu’s global expertise and skillful execution of IWC in CA was essential to the success of the program, which we attribute in large part to their talented team, thoughtful approach, and commitment to cultural authenticity.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How were mentors selected?
Yulu invite established First Nations, Inuit, and Métis authors and industry experts with proven commitment to community mentorship and cultural safety.
How did you ensure cultural safety?
The curriculum is co‑created with Indigenous advisors and mentors, centres lived experience, and includes clear consent, feedback, and wellbeing protocols.
What outcomes are tracked beyond press?
Alumni publication, representation, commissioned work, skills confidence, and sustained participation in the alumni network.
How is the alumni network supported?
Ongoing meet‑ups, community Facebook group, newsletters, and connection to Audible and partners.
Land Acknowledgement
This work takes place across the unceded territories of many Indigenous Nations. We honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis storytellers and knowledge‑keepers who make this program possible.
Let’s Work Together
Looking to build a community engagement program that turns your resources into measurable social change and builds stronger, more equitable communities? Email socialimpact@yulupr.com or call +1 604‑558‑1656 to discuss.
Explore more of Yulu’s impact programming and community engagement work.
