Donor support helped one survivor share her story When Alisha was 16, her family lost everything in a fire. She turned to poetry to heal and help her loved ones process the tragedy. Years later, while working as a care provider, Alisha discovered Write Around Portland. She’d wanted to continue writing, but couldn’t find a […]

Your gift builds community in assisted living facilities FOR THE PAST DECADE, donor support has brought something special to Whitewood Gardens residential care facility. Thanks to you, elders like Esther were energized and inspired this fall. “I can’t wait to do it again! It was an excellent experience filled with imagination, fun, and expertise from

Barbara Brown (she/her) is one of our passionate volunteer facilitators and in the fall she facilitated our first writing group for 4th and 5th graders. The program was hosted in collaboration with IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) at Menlo Park Elementary in Northeast Portland. Barbara moved to Portland in 2024 and discovered Write Around

In December, we published our 65th anthology titled I Was Always There — a compilation of pieces written by participants during our fall season of community writing groups. Now, that book is ready to make its way onto the shelves of independent bookstores throughout Portland. How does the anthology make it there? Through the power

The Southeast Examiner recently featured Write Around Portland’s transformationalwork at local care facility Whitewood Gardens! Write Around Portland has partnered with Whitewood Gardens for many years to bringwriting in community to its senior residents. As Program Manager Lilly Do says in the article, “Helping folks leave a legacy andhelping their words get out [are goals

We have been busy getting into the swing of things as we brought on two new staff members while preparing and launching our fall writing season.  Brandy Bell (she/her) joined us in August as our half-time Admin. She is a novelist and facilitator. And Maya Friedman (she/they) joined the team in September. She is a

When we see someone in need of a warm coat for the cold or a meal when they are hungry, the solution seems simple. But what about those facing invisible struggles like trauma, addiction, or depression? Relief isn’t always straightforward, and thousands of our neighbors are suffering in ways you can’t always see. At Write

Omari Williams-Reid is a Write Around Portland participant who we met at PHAME in Southeast Portland. PHAME is an organization that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full, creative lives.  Omari’s story is captured in this video that we shared at our Raise Your Pen Fundraiser and it is an example of

WANT TO volunteer but short on time? Selection Committee is perfect for you! Your voice can help decide which stories or poems reach the world through our next book. You’ll join other volunteers to make important decisions about our upcoming book. Some meetings focus on selecting poems and stories from the many pieces participants submit

THANKS TO YOUR support, we’ve partnered with Multnomah County Libraries to solve a big problem: finding space for our Resonate program. Resonate creates writing spaces specifically for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Participants had been asking for in-person events, but we needed an affordable meeting space. Your support helped us secure something amazing: free