What We Do

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Write Around Portland workshops & philosophies
Workshops, readings & anthologies
Partner agencies & organizations by category

Write Around Portland provides high quality, skillfully facilitated writing workshops in safe, accessible and respectful environments for people to write and share in community, holds community readings to promote the exchange of stories and publishes anthologies to connect writers and readers

Workshops & Philosophies

Write Around Portland provides high quality, creative and unique writing workshops, which are participant-centered and are based on experiential learning. Our workshops run for 8-10 weeks, 2 hours per week. The workshop curriculum focuses on both generating new writing and developing the writing or revision and supports flexibility to meet the particular needs and interests of a given workshop group.

Volunteer workshop facilitators participate in a 27 hour intensive training on Write Around Portland's values and philosophies, key concepts of facilitation, including creation of a safe community in which to write and share, and practice modeling successful, creative workshop facilitation.

In our workshops, facilitators write alongside participants through a series of freewrites and positive feedback. Workshop participants write stories, poems, memoirs, letters, essays while experimenting with imagery, character development, writing in different voices, dialogue and poetry/line breaks. Participants have the opportunity to share their writing and give and receive positive feedback to grow as writers and build respectful community.

Writing Workshops

Write Around Portland has facilitated more than 370 creative writing workshops, unleashing the creative power of more than 2,400 adults and youth by helping them access the literary arts and community. The workshops meet two hours per week for ten weeks.

Our traditional workshops are held in partnership with social service agencies, community organizations, health care providers, correctional facilities and schools (see list at bottom of this page). These workshops are offered free to people living with HIV/AIDS, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, adults and youth in addiction recovery, low income seniors, people in prison, homeless youth and others who may not have access to writing in community because of income, isolation or other barriers. To ensure that everyone in our city has access to the power of writing in community, writing journals, pens, bus tickets, childcare and snacks are provided for participants in these workshops.

We also offer special workshops designed for new and seasoned writers who want to participate in a Write Around Portland workshop and support the communities we traditionally serve. These workshops are open to everyone. We currently offer two workshops with an associated fee: Prompt at Powell's City of Books and monthly workshops at HOTLIPS Pizza.

Write Around Portland's workshops are facilitated by highly-trained volunteers with a passion for writing and an ability to nurture and engage participants in the writing process. Over 200 volunteers have completed the training.

Community Readings

Workshop participants share their writing with the city at community readings, more than 100 to date. These readings promote respect for diverse groups and provide an opportunity to hear the powerful stories of gifted writers in our workshops. Few Portland events include so many diverse voices. Visit our Events page for more information about upcoming readings.

Published Anthologies

Write Around Portland has published and sold 30 anthologies of participant writing at the end of each season of our traditional workshops. These professionally-produced anthologies provide participants – many for the first time – the opportunity and satisfaction to see their words in print, while providing the public the opportunity to read the powerful stories and diverse voices of these important writers. Visit our Publications and Writers page for more information on our anthologies and where to find them.

Write Around Portland Partner organizations for writing workshops

Interested in holding a Write Around Portland workshop at your agency or organization? Click here for more information.

Write Around Portland has provided writing workshops in collaboration with more than 150 social service agencies, community organizations, the state, county and public schools serving specific populations, such women fleeing domestic violence, youth who are homeless, people with mental or physical disabilities and adults in recovery from drug/alcohol addictions. Partner organizations provide workshop space and recruit participants.

We also hold "open" workshops for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability and a special workshop called "Write On: Returning Writers" for adults who have participated in 2-3 previoius workshops. After completing Write On, participants are invited to write together in community in a self-faciliated group called "Seasoned Writers," which is held in the Write Around Portland writers' resource room.

Veterans living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Thought Auction

New Renaissance Mental Health Center
Sequoia Community Mental Health (formerly Homestreet Banyan Tree)

Consumer Voices are Born (CVAB)

Mental Health Action Group - First Unitarian Church of Portland

Oregon State Hospital

Health Care and Services for People with Disabilities

Kaiser Permanente Severe Obesity Management Group
Independent Living Resources
Quest Center for Integrative Health

Project Quest Arquette Cancer Center

Legacy Emanuel Burn Concern

Hospice of Washington County

Disability Resources of Southwest Washington

Providence St. Vincent Integrated Cancer Center

On-the-Move Community Integration

Willamette Falls Hospice

Self-Determination Resources, Inc.

Low Income Housing & Social Services

Central City Concern – Danmoore, Hatfield
Multnomah County, Clara Vista Family Resource Center
Volunteers of America, Marie Smith Center
Housing Authority of Portland – Hollywood East, Unthank Plaza, Williams Plaza, Sellwood Center, Gallagher Plaza, Dahlke Manor, New Columbia, Holgate House, Maple Mallory and NW Towers, Sellwood Center, Ruth Haefner Plaza
REACH Community Development Corporation - Ritzdorf, Powell Boulevard and Wilshire Apartments
William Temple House – North and NW

Park Terrace Apartments, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative, Inc.

Human Solutions

Portland Impact

Catholic Charities

Maybelle Clark MacDonald Center

Alder House

Innovative Housing, Inc. (IHI) - Musolf Manor and Broadway Vantage Apartments

Rose Community Development/Leander Court Apartments

The Giving Tree

St. James Lutheran Church

Youth

LifeWorks NW - LeoNiLeo

LifeWorks NW

New Avenues for Youth
p:ear
St. Mary's Home for Boys
YO! Center
Helensview High School
Multnomah County Juvenile Services - RAD Unit

Multnomah County Donald E. Long Juvenile Detentional Facility
Youth Employment Institute
Youth Builders
I Have a Dream Foundation
YWCA Smart Choices Program
DePaul Treatment Center

Dougy Center

North Portland Youth & Family Center

Centennial Learning Center

Powerhouse Mentors

Portland OIC/Rosemary Anderson High School

Jackson SUN School - Neighborhood House, Inc.

Girl Scouts Beyond Bars

Girl Scouts Columbia River Council Hispanic Initiative

Cascade AIDS Project Kids' Connection

Human Solutions Arbor Glen Teen Club

New Columbia Youth Group Powerhouse Mentors

NELA: Center for Student Access

Po'Shines/Teach Me To Fish

Janus Youth Services Bridge House

LEP High School

Timber Lake Job Corps

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex, Transgender, Queer

Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC)

Elder Resource Alliance/Friendly House Senior Services

Transgender Group

Homelessness/Transitional Housing

Dignity Village
JOIN
Jean's Place

Street Roots

Julia West House

Sisters of the Road

Multicultural services

Hispanic Access Center
Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement
Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRC0)
Native American Youth Association
North Portland Youth and Family Center
Clara Vista Common Bond

Girl Scouts Hispanic Initiative/El Programa de Iniciativa Hispana de Girl Scouts

Rigler SUN School

Domestic Violence

West Women's and Children's Center
Raphael House
YWCA Transitional Opportunities Project

YWCA Clark County

Volunteers of America - Family Center

Portland Women's Crisis Line

Prisons/Jails/Post-Incarceration

State of Oregon, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility - Minimum & Medium Security
State of Oregon, Columbia River Correctional Institution
Multnomah County Correctional Facility
Multnomah County Inverness Jail
Multnomah County Restitution Center

Girl Scouts Beyond Bars

Community Centers and Other Groups

Zimmerman Community Center
Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN Schools), Portland Public Schools – Roosevelt, Marshall, Portsmouth, Tubman, Rigler, Clarendon, Gilbert Park
Portland Parks and Recreation Dishman Community Center
Reflections Cafe
Brentwood Darlington Center
Neighborhood Pride Team

Families of Military Service members in Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns

Seniors

Urban League of Portland Multi-Cultural Senior Center
Volunteers of America, Velma Joy Bernie Center and Lambert House East

REACH/Station Place Tower

Cherry Park Plaza

Easter Seals

Providence ElderPlace Glendoveer

917 SW Oak St. #406, Portland, OR 97205 503.796.9224 info@writearound.org


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	What We Do On this page: Write Around Portland workshops & philosophies Workshops, readings & anthologies Partner agencies & organizations by category Write Around Portland provides high quality, skillfully facilitated writing workshops in safe, accessible and respectful environments for people to write and share in community, holds community readings to promote the exchange of stories and publishes anthologies to connect writers and readers Workshops & Philosophies Write Around Portland provides high quality, creative and unique writing workshops, which are participant-centered and are based on experiential learning. Our workshops run for 8-10 weeks, 2 hours per week. The workshop curriculum focuses on both generating new writing and developing the writing or revision and supports flexibility to meet the particular needs and interests of a given workshop group. Volunteer workshop facilitators participate in a 27 hour intensive training on Write Around Portland's values and philosophies, key concepts of facilitation, including creation of a safe community in which to write and share, and practice modeling successful, creative workshop facilitation. In our workshops, facilitators write alongside participants through a series of freewrites and positive feedback. Workshop participants write stories, poems, memoirs, letters, essays while experimenting with imagery, character development, writing in different voices, dialogue and poetry/line breaks. Participants have the opportunity to share their writing and give and receive positive feedback to grow as writers and build respectful community. Writing Workshops Write Around Portland has facilitated more than 370 creative writing workshops, unleashing the creative power of more than 2,400 adults and youth by helping them access the literary arts and community. The workshops meet two hours per week for ten weeks. Our traditional workshops are held in partnership with social service agencies, community organizations, health care providers, correctional facilities and schools (see list at bottom of this page). These workshops are offered free to people living with HIV/AIDS, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, adults and youth in addiction recovery, low income seniors, people in prison, homeless youth and others who may not have access to writing in community because of income, isolation or other barriers. To ensure that everyone in our city has access to the power of writing in community, writing journals, pens, bus tickets, childcare and snacks are provided for participants in these workshops. We also offer special workshops designed for new and seasoned writers who want to participate in a Write Around Portland workshop and support the communities we traditionally serve. These workshops are open to everyone. We currently offer two workshops with an associated fee: Prompt at Powell's City of Books and monthly workshops at HOTLIPS Pizza. Write Around Portland's workshops are facilitated by highly-trained volunteers with a passion for writing and an ability to nurture and engage participants in the writing process. Over 200 volunteers have completed the training. Community Readings Workshop participants share their writing with the city at community readings, more than 100 to date. These readings promote respect for diverse groups and provide an opportunity to hear the powerful stories of gifted writers in our workshops. Few Portland events include so many diverse voices. Visit our Events page for more information about upcoming readings. Published Anthologies Write Around Portland has published and sold 30 anthologies of participant writing at the end of each season of our traditional workshops. These professionally-produced anthologies provide participants – many for the first time – the opportunity and satisfaction to see their words in print, while providing the public the opportunity to read the powerful stories and diverse voices of these important writers. Visit our Publications and Writers page for more information on our anthologies and where to find them. Write Around Portland Partner organizations for writing workshops Interested in holding a Write Around Portland workshop at your agency or organization? Click here for more information. Write Around Portland has provided writing workshops in collaboration with more than 150 social service agencies, community organizations, the state, county and public schools serving specific populations, such women fleeing domestic violence, youth who are homeless, people with mental or physical disabilities and adults in recovery from drug/alcohol addictions. Partner organizations provide workshop space and recruit participants. We also hold "open" workshops for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability and a special workshop called "Write On: Returning Writers" for adults who have participated in 2-3 previoius workshops. After completing Write On, participants are invited to write together in community in a self-faciliated group called "Seasoned Writers," which is held in the Write Around Portland writers' resource room. Drug & Alcohol Recovery CODA Alpha Family Treatment Center Multnomah County Londer Learning Center/DePaul Treatment Center Multnomah County Project Network VOA Men's Residential Center HIV/AIDS Cascade AIDS Project HIV Day Center, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Camp Starlight Rosewood Apartments Quest Center for Integrative Health Our House/Neighborhood Housing and Care Program/Swan House Mental Health Cascadia Behavioral Health Care - Renaissance, New Mezz, Community Connectors Club 53 Folk Time Veterans living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Thought Auction New Renaissance Mental Health Center Sequoia Community Mental Health (formerly Homestreet Banyan Tree) Consumer Voices are Born (CVAB) Mental Health Action Group - First Unitarian Church of Portland Oregon State Hospital Health Care and Services for People with Disabilities Kaiser Permanente Severe Obesity Management Group Independent Living Resources Quest Center for Integrative Health Project Quest Arquette Cancer Center Legacy Emanuel Burn Concern Hospice of Washington County Disability Resources of Southwest Washington Providence St. Vincent Integrated Cancer Center On-the-Move Community Integration Willamette Falls Hospice Self-Determination Resources, Inc. Low Income Housing & Social Services Central City Concern – Danmoore, Hatfield Multnomah County, Clara Vista Family Resource Center Volunteers of America, Marie Smith Center Housing Authority of Portland – Hollywood East, Unthank Plaza, Williams Plaza, Sellwood Center, Gallagher Plaza, Dahlke Manor, New Columbia, Holgate House, Maple Mallory and NW Towers, Sellwood Center, Ruth Haefner Plaza REACH Community Development Corporation - Ritzdorf, Powell Boulevard and Wilshire Apartments William Temple House – North and NW Park Terrace Apartments, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative, Inc. Human Solutions Portland Impact Catholic Charities Maybelle Clark MacDonald Center Alder House Innovative Housing, Inc. (IHI) - Musolf Manor and Broadway Vantage Apartments Rose Community Development/Leander Court Apartments The Giving Tree St. James Lutheran Church Youth LifeWorks NW - LeoNiLeo LifeWorks NW New Avenues for Youth p:ear St. Mary's Home for Boys YO! Center Helensview High School Multnomah County Juvenile Services - RAD Unit Multnomah County Donald E. Long Juvenile Detentional Facility Youth Employment Institute Youth Builders I Have a Dream Foundation YWCA Smart Choices Program DePaul Treatment Center Dougy Center North Portland Youth & Family Center Centennial Learning Center Powerhouse Mentors Portland OIC/Rosemary Anderson High School Jackson SUN School - Neighborhood House, Inc. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Girl Scouts Columbia River Council Hispanic Initiative Cascade AIDS Project Kids' Connection Human Solutions Arbor Glen Teen Club New Columbia Youth Group Powerhouse Mentors NELA: Center for Student Access Po'Shines/Teach Me To Fish Janus Youth Services Bridge House LEP High School Timber Lake Job Corps Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex, Transgender, Queer Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) Elder Resource Alliance/Friendly House Senior Services Transgender Group Homelessness/Transitional Housing Dignity Village JOIN Jean's Place Street Roots Julia West House Sisters of the Road Multicultural services Hispanic Access Center Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRC0) Native American Youth Association North Portland Youth and Family Center Clara Vista Common Bond Girl Scouts Hispanic Initiative/El Programa de Iniciativa Hispana de Girl Scouts Rigler SUN School Domestic Violence West Women's and Children's Center Raphael House YWCA Transitional Opportunities Project YWCA Clark County Volunteers of America - Family Center Portland Women's Crisis Line Prisons/Jails/Post-Incarceration State of Oregon, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility - Minimum & Medium Security State of Oregon, Columbia River Correctional Institution Multnomah County Correctional Facility Multnomah County Inverness Jail Multnomah County Restitution Center Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Community Centers and Other Groups Zimmerman Community Center Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN Schools), Portland Public Schools – Roosevelt, Marshall, Portsmouth, Tubman, Rigler, Clarendon, Gilbert Park Portland Parks and Recreation Dishman Community Center Reflections Cafe Brentwood Darlington Center Neighborhood Pride Team Families of Military Service members in Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns Seniors Urban League of Portland Multi-Cultural Senior Center Volunteers of America, Velma Joy Bernie Center and Lambert House East REACH/Station Place Tower Cherry Park Plaza Easter Seals Providence ElderPlace Glendoveer 917 SW Oak St. #406, Portland, OR 97205 503.796.9224 info@writearound.org	"[Write Around Portland] inspired me to listen more closely to others' stories and share what we have in common...it's very safe and energizing." - Marisa Espinoza, Workshop Participant Provide journals to 15 workshop participants.
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