about

Welcome to The Blacktop!

Hosted by The Kelly Writers House at the University of Pennsylvania, The Blacktop is an online literary magazine for elementary, middle, and high school students in Philadelphia. The Blacktop encourages creative expression by offering young writers an opportunity to publish their work and share it with friends, family, teachers, and the community.

Send your submissions to submissions@theblacktop.org!  We would love to include you.

Download Blacktop Flyers:

• Flyer for Students
• Flyer for Educators

What’s in a name? Why “The Blacktop”?

The blacktop is the space where kids can be kids on the playground.

Whether there are second graders running around and playing hopscotch, middle school students jump roping, or high school adolescents dribbling a basketball, the blacktop is a space the draws students of all ages. Inviting and public, the blacktop is also decidedly urban. Likewise our journal is an urban and public space for student expression. Chalk art anyone?

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The Blacktop is the collaborative creation of Meghna Chandra, Allyson Even, and Mark Pan.

Current staff includes:

• Founder, Editor: Allyson Even
• Assistant Editor: Allison Wattenbarger
• Assistant Editor: Michael Scognamiglio
• Webmaster: Mark Pan
• Graphic Designer: Meghna Chandra