Community

Statement by Hannah Jackson ('24) pictured second from the left: 

"Volunteering with Writers in Residence has been a life changing experience. As you work through the semester with the students, you start to see them open up and lean into the workshops. The work that they produce is exceptional and a true testament to the importance of writing as a form of expression. Anyone who loves reading and writing and wants to share their passion for it with others should volunteer with WIR. It is such a rewarding experience and I couldn’t recommend the program enough."

The CWRU cohort of Writers in Residence, a volunteering group that leads writing workshops in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, is looking for interested members. Writing workshops run for twelve weeks in the Fall and Spring semesters on Thursdays from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the CCJDC. These workshops allow students to use creative writing as an outlet for self-expression and reflection through unique lessons each week. Alongside the mentorship of peer volunteers, students find a sense of community and belonging through judgment-free reading and writing. At the conclusion of the semester, a chapbook is produced as a celebration of the students' work from throughout the semester. The program and its final chapbook work to bring awareness to the juvenile detention system and the importance of investing time into students to assist in their reentry to society. 

If you are interested in joining, please email Nikhita Arun at nsa60@case.edu or Jamie Hickner at jxh1516@case.edu.