Women Writing for a Change was founded by Mary Pierce Brosmer in 1991. A former English teacher and practicing poet, Mary gathered a group of fifteen women for a weekly writing class, using circle practices, establishing confidentiality, and creating a safe space for honest feedback.
Growth has been organic, coming from within the lives of the founder, staff, faculty members, and the countless women, men and girls who have attended classes.
People ages 9-95 attend core semester classes, weekend writing retreats, mini-series sessions, Saturday theme classes, and a variety of community events. Participants experience the inspiration and safety created by expert teacher-facilitators, and a vibrant, hospitable container for evoking what is theirs to tell.
Milestones
Below are some important milestones in WWFC's history.
- In 1996 Young Women Writing for a Change began offering summer day camps for girls and teens. These writing camps inspire and encourage girls who love to write, in age-appropriate groups from 9 to 21. Mini-semesters during Fall and Spring keep girls connected during the school year.
- In 1999, WWFC created a Foundation to widen accessibility and include more diverse participation through outreach programs, radio podcasts, and scholarships to WWFC programs. WWFC reaches out to a wider community through collaborations and partnerships to create writing circles for homeless teens, individuals with developmental disabilities, adults with Down Syndrome, and the elderly, to name a few.
- From 1999-2005, Women Writing for (a) Change on the Radio published the words of its writers to a four-state audience with a radio show on NPR affiliate WVXU, 91.7 FM. WWFC continues to widen accessibility through podcast programs, reaching thousands via the internet.
- Between 2004 and 2009, The Feminist Leadership Academy of Cincinnati (FLA) trained and licensed individuals in the WWFC methods and practices. Some FLA graduates established Women Writing for a Change schools in other states, including Colorado, Vermont, Indiana and Alabama. Many FLA graduates apply WWFC methods and practices in business, nonprofit, and educational settings.
- In 2007 Consulting for Change was created as an LLC by Mary Pierce Brosmer to help businesses and nonprofits craft more conscious and sustainable organizations through the use of writing, community-building and other practices inherent to the WWFC model. In 2009, Mary published Women Writing for (a) Change: A Guide for Creative Transformation with Sorin Press.
- In 2010 Women Writing for a Change – school and foundation – merged to form one not-for-profit, a 501 © (3), which continues to further the WWFC mission.