INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Letter from Jhazalyn Prince; Professional Development and Writing Retreat; Training News; Affiliate Classifieds.
Dear AWA community,
My first year when I was looking for a work-study job, I wanted to find something that would relate to my studies and prepare me for work outside of college. It seems cliché to say that I think AWA and I were meant to be. The day that I was going on an interview for another job the bus simply did not arrive, and before I was able to go to the rescheduled interview, Maureen hired me on the spot. Being able to work for an organization that supports each and every person as a writer and values their voices and stories, allowed me to figure out what I wanted to do as a student at Hampshire and beyond. At Hampshire College, I study how creative writing can be used to explore and heal from trauma, and how it can be a tool for social justice. A lot of my writing centers the experiences of Black femmes.
Having a job, in and of itself, was a treat to me. Being able to work for money that I could use to support myself and my family back home was essential. It was a bonus that I was able to work with Maureen, who is an amazing writer and has been a caring, and supportive mentor for the entire four years that I’ve been working with her. From helping with events such as the Affiliate Conference to typing up the synopses of all of the people AWA trains each year, working for AWA has been an honor.
I also had the pleasure of writing in Maureen’s Writing Full Tilt writing groups for four years as well. This year it helped tremendously with my DIV III project, which is a novella that explores ideas of gender identity, cultural differences within Blackness, body positivity, substance abuse and love. The workshops also kept me from resenting the writing process, which I feel is easy to do when you are in an academic setting because writing starts to feel like a chore. Being in a writing workshop that uses the AWA method gave me a sense of freedom, joy and confidentiality in my writing that was pure and made sure I never fell out of love with writing. So much so that I will be pursuing my MFA in poetry at The New School this fall.
Jhazalyn Prince
Graduating AWA Intern
Graduating AWA Intern
AWA is offering a Professional Development and Writing Retreat!
October 12 – 15, 2018 in Albuquerque, NM
This is an opportunity for AWA trained workshop leaders to connect with one another as writers and workshop leaders. If that appeals to you, please visit our website for more information or to register.
Or, join AWA Canada July 16 – 18 in Ontario for their Resource-Sharing Retreat!
For information or to attend this similar event at a retreat centre in the gorgeous Hockley Valley, click here. You don’t have to be Canadian! All AWA facilitators welcome.
Training News: Boston full, Chicago still has space available
AWA has just one remaining training in 2018! Sadly, our Oregon training has been canceled. Your last opportunity to become an AWA facilitator this year is to join us is in Chicago, IL from August 31 – September 4.
To fill out your application or learn more, please visit our website.
If you have any questions, please email our Training Program Director, Maureen Buchanan Jones at maureen@amherstwriters.org.
Affiliate Classifieds
Inkslingers in Ireland – Yoga and Writing Adventure with three fabulous AWA facilitators – Sue Reynolds, James Dewar & Kate Marshall Flaherty. Visit the Emerald Isle and let its literary history infuse your own writing with its magic. July 28 to August 5, 2018. Visit www.inkslingers.ca for more information.