The Write Around Portland team has a new staff member that you may have met at the recent Summer Reading & Book Release. Tia-Theo Thompson (they/she/he) is our new Program and Events Coordinator, and their dedication to creating spaces where everyone is seen, heard, and valued makes them a great fit for our team! What […]

While it is too soon to bring out your favorite wool sweater, it is never too early to start planning your fall writing practice. Write Around Portland will be back in-person at Powell’s, as well as hosting in-person and online Freewrite and Resonate writing circles after our summer hiatus. All of our programs are open

Resilience often blooms in unexpected places. For Crystal Calanca, writing has become much more than a creative outlet, it has been a lifeline in the face of daunting challenges. As a single parent navigating sobriety and facing financial hardship, Crystal has faced more than her share of adversity. Crystal found a sense of belonging and

One of the most thrilling aspects of writing is that fresh journal feeling. Opening up to a clean page and setting pen to paper is flush with potential. Each program season, Write Around Portland provides participants with everything they need to participate in our writing groups: snacks, pens, time, and a new journal. Our volunteer

Write Around Portland is excited to partner with Menucha Retreat and Conference Center to offer a new creative writing retreat in one of the Pacific Northwest’s most peaceful and inspiring settings. This retreat is open to everyone and no writing experience is needed. Just bring your desire to write, whether it’s to tell your story,

Each spring and fall, Write Around Portland publishes an anthology that features the powerful, personal writing of participants from our free community writing circles. For participants, submitting their work is more than just an exercise, it’s often their first experience being treated as an author, with their voice honored and their words in print. Volunteers

Our FREE summer reading will feature powerful work written by Write Around Portland participants from our spring writing program. This evening is a celebration of our writers, their work and their dedication to writing with their communities. Readers will include adults and veterans in recovery, youth in alternative school settings, adults living with developmental disabilities,

Meg’s recovery got a big boost from our creative writing program Meg wanted to shake things up. Being in addiction recovery meetings can be monotonous, so when Alano Club of Portland offered our writing group, she signed up. Write Around Portland facilitator Daniel created a safe space for her and others to share. They let

A unique volunteer role offers heartfelt rewards If you’re interested in supporting our writers, one great way to help is by volunteering as a Scribe! Scribes typically work one-on-one with a participant who may not be able to comfortably hold a pen or who needs other assistance. Over the course of 6-10 weeks, you’ll develop

Your support reached 15 communities last season Thanks to you, we brought the healing power of creative writing to 15 agencies last fall! In total, we wrote with 164 writers across the season. We wrote with people recovering from addiction, burn survivors, people living with HIV, previously houseless Veterans, students in vocational training programs, and