The Jan. 7, 2009 edition of the East Bay Express included an article by Jocelyn Wiener about WriterCoach Connection, focusing on WCC's expansion to Oakland at Media Academy and quoting Media Principal Ben Schmookler's pleased reaction to the program: "This is the most volunteers I've ever seen." Ben isn't the only person at Media who is pleased to have writer coaches working one on one with Media students. Ms. Wiener describes the reaction of Media tenth graders:
"I thought it was going to be annoying at first," said Lester Finney. "I didn't think it was going to help."
But since then, he and others have changed their minds.
"I like it because they really break things down for us," he said. "We don't never really get one-on-one help with somebody like when we're doing essays. But now we do."
Finney's classmate, Chanthavara Seng, fifteen, agreed enthusiastically.
"I recommend it to everybody in the United States," he said. Finney nodded his support.