Writing for a Change Foundation
of Bloomington, Inc.
of Bloomington, Inc.
Outreach
Outreach initiatives are events and programs that benefit a specific population, such
as youth grades 3 through 12, those incarcerated at local jails or
prisons, senior citizens, persons in hospice and their family members,
health care workers, college students, and teachers. We partner with other community organizations of offer these events free of charge.
Our outreach initiatives provide a supportive and rehabilitative function in which writing is used as a tool of healing and creative engagement. For example, incarcerated individuals are invited to use writing as a gateway to insight and reconciliation. Older adults are supported to share with one another and generate personal narrative and memoir as a legacy for their descendants. Care-givers and individuals confronted with serious illness benefit from writing programs designed to help them grapple with the gifts and challenges of living with illness.
Our outreach initiatives provide a supportive and rehabilitative function in which writing is used as a tool of healing and creative engagement. For example, incarcerated individuals are invited to use writing as a gateway to insight and reconciliation. Older adults are supported to share with one another and generate personal narrative and memoir as a legacy for their descendants. Care-givers and individuals confronted with serious illness benefit from writing programs designed to help them grapple with the gifts and challenges of living with illness.
OUTREACH PROGRAM AT THE MCCC
Since 2006, volunteers have conducted bi-weekly writing circles with women incarcerated at the Monroe County Correctional Center in downtown Bloomington, Indiana. Approximately 30 women per month are served in this volunteer-led program. The program provides a safe space in the context of the jail, to explore writing as a rehabilitative and community building tool. Most participants are affected by poverty, abuse, drug or alcohol addiction and crimes related to these conditions. Since its inception, the program has served more than 300 women.
This class is a true blessing…remembering what seems bad is not all bad. We face it. Embrace it. Write about it. Grow! –Reflection from one of the participants of the Monroe County Jail Circle
Since 2006, volunteers have conducted bi-weekly writing circles with women incarcerated at the Monroe County Correctional Center in downtown Bloomington, Indiana. Approximately 30 women per month are served in this volunteer-led program. The program provides a safe space in the context of the jail, to explore writing as a rehabilitative and community building tool. Most participants are affected by poverty, abuse, drug or alcohol addiction and crimes related to these conditions. Since its inception, the program has served more than 300 women.
This class is a true blessing…remembering what seems bad is not all bad. We face it. Embrace it. Write about it. Grow! –Reflection from one of the participants of the Monroe County Jail Circle
Outreach at Monroe County Corrections Center.
Photos by Jesslene Ames
Photos by Jesslene Ames
ONGOING OUTREACH EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Interested in books and poetry? Please join us at one of these Writing for a Change-affiliated programs, both open to community members:
Evening Book Club
Join us on the first Thursday of each month for a book discussion. We meet from 5:30 to 7 PM at the Poplar Grove Schoohouse, 4638 E. State Road 45. We'll share information about other books we've all read recently, too.
For more information, email Carole Clark.
Interested in books and poetry? Please join us at one of these Writing for a Change-affiliated programs, both open to community members:
Poetry Detectives
Would you like to know more about how to read a poem? Then join our monthly "poetry detective" meetings. Through reading and discussion, we demystify poems together. We meet at the Poplar Grove Schoolhouse, 4638 E. State Road 45, on the 2nd Saturday morning of each month, 10 AM-noon. All our welcome. For more information, email Poetry DetectivesEvening Book Club
Join us on the first Thursday of each month for a book discussion. We meet from 5:30 to 7 PM at the Poplar Grove Schoohouse, 4638 E. State Road 45. We'll share information about other books we've all read recently, too.
For more information, email Carole Clark.
