Write Around Portland

Writing workshops: in 2023, Write Around Portland continued our recovery from the pandemic with growth in our workshops and volunteer programs. We held 22 writing workshops for adults and youth in hospitals, schools, shelters, treatment centers, low income housing buildings, senior centers and other health care and social service settings. Workshops met for up to 10 weeks, and we offered these generative writing workshops free of charge to more than 198 adults and young people experiencing financial insecurity or isolation. We also held 27 one-time workshops in partnership with other non-profits and educational institutions to support their programming and in those workshops wrote with 555 participants. In total we held workshops in partnership with 30 different organizations to bring writing to places where people live, study and receive services. We provided journals, pens, snacks, bus tickets and accommodations to remove obstacles to participation. More than 95% of participants reported improvements in writing and listening skills as well as a decrease in isolation. We also held 26 sliding scale and market rate workshops open to the general public and 24 free resonate workshops that offered a supportive space for black, indigenous and people of color to Write and share, 22 of which were online and 2 that were offered in-person. We held 2 volunteer facilitator trainings and trained 21 new facilitators to help lead all of these workshops. Workshop participant wansford shared, "i liked hearing of the diversity of others in the group. Got to know them, made friends and now can pass them in the building and feel i've shared a part of their lives and that i got to share a little bit of mine." Publications: we published two professionally-designed books of participants' unique and powerful writing. We printed and distributed 600 copies: "through a kaleidoscope" (spring) and "the whole root" (fall). These publications were truly community endeavors, with more than 40 volunteers helping to produce each book. Workshop participants each received a free copy of the book in which their writing was published. Books were also made available at local bookstores, public libraries, correctional facilities and at schools. We featured writers and their work on our website and through social media, and we also created community chapbooks of writing by participants in our prompt workshops. In his introduction to our 60th anthology, 'through a kaleidoscope", writer omar el akkad wrote "it takes an immense amount of courage to put a story down on paper when silence would be so much easier. To our great fortune, these writers did." Community readings: we held 2 large and 3 smaller readings with more than 300 audience members. Our large community readings were open to the public and were free of charge. These readings brought participants from all of our workshops together and with the general public to share their work. These events promoted respect for diverse voices and provided the opportunity to share the stories of individuals experiencing isolation because of economic, cultural, physical, social or other barriers. The range of stories at each reading was vast. A spirit of support, compassion, respect and enthusiasm for the writers and the written word permeated each reading. Our writers and audiences are among the most diverse in Portland. Volunteer earl dizon shared, "i will never not be inspired attending a reading - seeing the hesitant approach of the reader toward the podium and then their smile as they finish their work, soaking up the applause of the audience. It radiates from each person how gratified they feel not just that they spoke in front of a crowd, but that people listened. They were heard. They were seen. They mattered. That is what Write Around Portland does best." All of this work was supported by 80 volunteers who contributed 2,634 volunteer hours.