Fort Greene Non-Profit New York Writers Coalition Hosts Fundraising Write-A-Thon in June

“Everyone has a story, everyone has a voice” is the message that the Fort Greene-based New York Writers Coalition has been spreading for years. On June 11, everyone has a chance to craft their voices at the NYWC’s 6th Annual Write-A-Thon.

“The Write-A-Thon is a great opportunity for everyone to experience the power of our work,” said Aaron Zimmerman, Executive Director of the NYWC. The all-day writing intensive workshop will also host a lunch time talk by bestselling novelist/playwright/poet Jessica Hagedorn, and each attendee can sign up to participate in one of the many workshops offered throughout the day.

However, the personal benefits from participating in the Write-A-Thon are just one aspect of the event, which will raise funds for the non-profit’s free community-based writing programs, designed for “people not heard from often enough in society,” as Zimmer notes.

Each summer, the Coalition hosts the Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival. Over six weeks, Brooklyn’s youth participate in outdoor creative writing workshops, culminating in an afternoon where participants share the stage with professional writers in Fort Greene Park. Past featured participants include Fort Greene residents Jhumpa Lahiri and Colson Whitehead.

At the heart of the organization are their free workshops. Participants come from marginalized groups: at-risk youth, the homeless, the incarcerated, veterans, people with disabilities, people suffering from major illness, immigrants, and seniors. The workshops are led by NYWC volunteers and professional writers.

“We help people find their voice, discover the value of their own stories, and gain confidence and a stronger sense of self through their writing” says Zimmerman. “The literary festival, and our other events such as Write Makes Might and Writing Aloud could not happen without the Write-A-Thon.”

Participants only need to raise a minimum donation of  $150 to attend. Local businesses, such as Tekserve and Brooklyn Writers Space among many others, have donated prizes that will be given away to those who raise more than the minimum fee.

Write Makes Might is a group reading event, where participants from different workshops share their work. This year, the eighth annual reading is on May 14 at University Settlement, and is free to attend.

The Coalition’s Writing Aloud reading series presents writers from the NYWC community reading alongside established and emerging writers. Each Writing Aloud has a theme; the next event –June 23rd – celebrates LGBT Pride Month.

In addition to the workshops and various readings, the Coalition publishes an online literary journal, Dig Deep. Zimmerman is enthusiastic about all the projects: “With all the events we coordinate to engage various communities, we’re constantly looking to share the work of too-often overlooked, talented New Yorkers with the community at large.”

This year’s Write-A-Thon is June 11 at the Library of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
 (20 West 44th Street, Manhattan). For more information and to register, visit the Coalition’s website: http://www.nywriterscoalition.org.