Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring

Dear Generous Givers and Lovers of the Literary Arts,

     Happy Holidays, Everyone!!!

     This quarter, LJWC’s Publishing Project shepherded three writers to the ranks of authorship, and we continued to inform those who come to us seeking valuable knowledge about the publishing industry. Those writers gleaned much via our writing and mentoring workshops.

     Commemorating our time reading Maryland Humanities’ One Maryland One Book selection, titled Kin: Rooted in Hope, a book rich in poetry and art, we distributed books, held workshops, and during our Fall/Winter 2025 Big Quarterly, we hosted its author, Carole Boston Weatherford (the art was created by her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford). The dance and poetry reading performances, interviews, and audience discussions during this event inspired everyone in the space.

     We had a fulfilling experience conducting our four-part Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring Workshop series for women living in transitional housing. With your financial support, we provided them with rich, relatable perspectives on their lives and futures through powerful written word and opportunities for creative self-expression. And we’re not through yet. We played games, engaged in critical discussions, and each woman received gifts and books.  We also conducted our writing and mentoring workshops for the general public.

     LJWC continues to support the participants and graduates of two programs, flourishing in the Charles County Drug and Family Specialty Courts, designed to address an array of life skills and life challenges, such as substance abuse, homelessness, financial instability, threat of incarceration, mental health therapy needs, and more. We also continue to support Families in Recovery, Inc., doing that same work.

     LJWC, through our LJ Mentoring and Writing Workshops, continues to uplift and raise awareness of our First Responders—such as our Unsung Heroes across many Departments of Public Works, whom many don’t think about regularly. We have several film shorts on YouTube.

     We continue to hope for your support as we plan to reach out to our youth and senior citizens. We want to nurture and empower those voices.

     I sincerely thank you for your tax-deductible donations, and to the few dedicated givers who make 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

Dear Generous Givers and Lovers of the Literary Arts,

     This quarter, LJWC is proud and grateful to have successfully completed itsTraveling 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! It ran through May 17 to June 29, 2025, reached approximately 1200 people, and according to both Maryland Humanities and the Smithsonian Institute, LJWC made history by being the first organization to incorporate a medical center in its program! Yes, we conducted a Life Journeys Writing and Mentoring Workshop at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center to support its medical staff, which spurred talks to conduct these workshops on a regular basis, inviting the community to join. At the medical center, LJWG created a film short, now on YouTube, highlighting the importance of immigrant medical professionals to the center and to our communities at large. We created a second film short, highlighting and giving voice to some of the indispensable and dedicated workers of Charles County’s Department of Public Works.

     Both of these film shorts, which we plan to expand, are titled The Spark of our Charles County [MD] Unsung Heroes of First Responders. Please take a look and like them on YouTube.

     Our literary arts outreach included Photo Booth fun, participating in festivals and conducting our Writing and Mentoring Workshop five-part series with senior citizens where we discovered some incredibly talented writers, and we’re now mentoring and motivating them to keep moving forward to authorship and community and therapeutic awareness. Through our Publishing Project, we are currently helping three writers achieve authorship with professionalism, originality and integrity. We conducted workshops for grieving widows and read books to boys and girls in Title I elementary schools. We participated in a back-to-school, school supply drive and conducted a Black History Essay Contest for high schoolers, giving out monetary prizes.

     LJWC continued empowering and mentoring at-risk women, and applauded and supported graduates of two programs, 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.

      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:

• Inspiring, Informing & Empowering via the Literary Arts