Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring

Dear Generous Givers and Lovers of the Literary Arts,

     During this quarter, LJWC has been busy creating its Traveling Exhibitions for a statewide event titled SPARK! Places of Innovation, sponsored by Maryland Humanities and its Museum on Main Street (MoMs) project, and the Smithsonian Institute!

     Not only were we elated about being one out of only six Maryland sites chosen, but we were also elated to be designated as the state’s kickoff event. It’s happening May 17 through June 29, 2025!!!

     With such an opportunity at hand, we are doing what we do! Throughout our Charles County communities, we’re highlighting our Unsung First Responders—professionals in healthcare and in Public Works, who go unseen and often unthanked as they solve our emergencies (everything from bloodwork testing and evaluating to correcting unsafe drinking water to snow removal, and more). And these highlights, which will be shown via two film shorts, will also celebrate the importance of our strong immigrant populations. We’re also conducting a series of Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring Workshops for our senior citizens, our healthcare staff, patients, and anyone who would like to explore the wealth of writing to improve mental health and gain access to creative self-expression and voice. We’re even going to share a little photo booth fun, free to the public, at the Waldorf Senior and Recreational Center (6/13) and the Charles County ArtsFest (6/14). And we will share how wonderful it is to show appreciation to our unsung heroes.

     This quarter, LJWC not only continued empowering and mentoring at-risk women, but it also applauded and supported graduates of two programs, such as the one program flourishing in the Charles County Drug and Family Specialty Courts, designed to address an array of life challenges, such as substance abuse, homelessness, financial instability, threat of incarceration, mental health therapy needs, and more.

     We conducted our writing workshops, with a nationwide audience, for those suffering the grief of losing a spouse. And we went into Title 1 schools to read to enthusiastic young girls and boys!

        The impact of all our programming and general support of writers is its ability to operate intentionally to create spaces that make people feel safe, heard, seen, and creative.

     As we have all entered into trying times, I sincerely thank you for all your tax-deductible donations, and thank you to those few dedicated givers making recurring donations. Your generous gifts enable us to feed the passions of those who love and need to engage in the Literary Arts.

     Kindly, I hope you will spread the good word about the wealth of writing, how we’re working hard to make a difference, and that even a modest monthly gift can fuel our impact on the world.

     All in all, we are very grateful! 

Thank you,

Yvonne J. Medley, LJWC Founder/Executive Director

Links:

• LJWC's SPARK Project trailer, highlighting our Unsung Heroes

Dear Generous Givers and Lovers of the Literary Arts,

     During this quarter, LJWC highlighted its Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring (LJW&M) Project before a Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ alumni association and future HBCU students. LJWC conducted specifically designed LJW&M workshops to inform, conduct outreach/awareness, and encourage groups of women, senior citizens, and a nonprofit that catered to several regions of the United States interested in the empowerment of writing and publishing.

     We conducted the first of hopefully three LJW&M workshops targeted to members of our Native American populations. Our first workshop, which was also LJWC’s final Big Quarterly for 2024, was titled Reclaiming Pride Celebrating Culture and Courage // Voice and Vibe of Southern Maryland’s Indigenous People andwas attended by Native American adults. Future workshops will cater to Native American teens, children, and families.  

     By way of our LJW&M project workshops and programming, LJWC engaged, empowered, and inspired women currently living in transitional housing. For these woman, who arrived at this juncture in their lives due to particularly challenging and life-changing events, LJWC offered life skills and literary instruction. It conducted a film class and a joyous Vision Board experience. LJWC gifted books and literary-incentive giveaways and provided meals for these women and their dutiful staff. Discovered were the extraordinary literary gifts these women exhibited throughout. They were giving, raw, and courageous to share—and unforgettable.

     LJWC continues to support the Maryland Court system’s specialty courts, such as the Charles County Drug Court’s special programs. We continue to support at-risk men, women, and youth. 

     LJWC is honored and grateful to be in the planning stages for its landmark participation in the Smithsonian Institute and Maryland Humanities Traveling Exhibit titled SPARK! — coming in the summer of 2025 (We are actively inviting, planning, and promoting the participation of local talents in The Arts). For this nationwide annual endeavor, a part of a program named Museums on Main Street (MoMs)—for the state of Maryland’s participation, LJWC’s six-week exhibit (that will include special workshops and programming) will serve as the state’s kickoff!

     The impact of all our programming and general support of writers is its ability to operate intentionally to create spaces that make people feel safe, heard, seen, and creative.

     As we boldly head into 2025, I sincerely thank you for all your tax-deductible donations and thank you to those few dedicated givers making recurring donations. Your generous gifts enable us to feed the passions of those who love and need to engage in the Literary Arts. Kindly, I hope you will spread the good word on the wealth of writing, how we’re working hard to make a difference, and that even a modest monthly gift can fuel our impact on the world.

     All in all, we are very grateful! 

Thank you,

Yvonne J. Medley, LJWC Founder/Executive Director

Links:

• Join the Work, Discovery and Fun!