Ken Ballard is a longtime friend to Write Around Portland. He began as a participant in our writing program nearly 25 years ago and we have been lucky enough to keep in touch with him since then. The following is a statement that Ken shared with us recently about why he continues to support the […]

As we revel in the beauty of what was a very successful spring season for Write Around Portland, we’re also thinking about how we will keep that momentum going for this fall. We were able to bring our writing program to 15 locations, up from 10 in the spring of 2023. We also increased the

We were thrilled to see OPB highlight DoveLewis’ Pet Loss Support program last month. In 2020, we partnered with DoveLewis to provide healing creative writing workshops for grieving pet owners. And we’ve continued to provide these workshops quarterly. Write Around Portland Program Director Sarah Weller noted, “We’ve found that the DoveLewis participants have had wonderful

 We celebrated our inspiring writers at our Spring Reading & Book Release on Thursday, May 16.  44 writers bravely approached the microphone – the most in recent memory — sharing their work with more than 100 people in a packed house. There were tears, laughter, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude toward our amazing workshop facilitators. Held at

Write Around Portland Staff’s Statement on the Crisis in Palestine At Write Around Portland, we believe in the dignity of all people and that writing is a powerful tool for individual and societal change and healing. Our organization uses storytelling and listening to create a more just and humane society. Through creative writing in community

Our spring creative writing workshop season is in full swing, thanks to donor support! We’re writing with 14 different communities across the Portland area right now! We bring our healing creative writing program to nonprofits and other agencies across the Portland Metro. Participants write for 6-10 weeks with a volunteer facilitator and are published in

Donor support helped Moss and others write through hardship together Last Fall, Moss Bittner wrote in our creative writing workshop hosted with the Legacy Oregon Burn Center. It was his second Write Around Portland experience, driven by a growing passion for creative writing. Moss has been unable to work in recent years due to his

Last fall, we partnered for the first time with All Good Northwest. They operate five low-barrier shelter programs in the Portland metro area.    One of those shelter programs is Multnomah Safe Rest Village (MSRV) – a cluster of thirty tiny homes designed as temporary housing solutions. Participants in the shelter program have access to holistic

Writing comes up on a lot of New Year’s Resolution lists. Is it on yours? For some it’s a recommitment to their writing practice. For others it’s a tool for self-care or an effort to make more space for creativity and connection. Whatever your reasons, we welcome you to register for one (or more!) of

“Tomorrow I Will” by Ron Boyd “Each workshop I’ve become a better writer,” says recent writing workshop participant, Ron Boyd. “Writing and listening to other peoples’ writing has helped me overcome shyness and have a better understanding on how writing your thoughts helps you in your life.” Ron wrote with us Fall 2023 at Home