Women Writing for (a) Change, Jacksonville

Overview
Let's explore what it means to make a life, working by hand, as we fill our journals with the new worlds we are creating and expanding.
[photo from the cover of Making a life: Working by Hand]

### Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live

> “When we stop knowing how to use our hands to meet our most basic needs—we become estranged from nature, from the value and meaning of things, and from the empathy that we need to care for one another and our world.”

> —Melanie Falick, Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live

Fall Series: Making a Life
This fall we introduce our latest theme, Linens and Laces, focusing on the long lineage of weaving, spinning, and stitching practiced by the women who came before us. We’ll be reading Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live by Melanie Falick as we write our stories and weave together the threads of our own lives. We will explore the question of why working with our hands ”remains vital and valuable in the modern world.” The answer is found deep in our bones.

Our featured artists on the walls will be our newest Zora Neale Hurston Fellows, Deshonna “Sunflower Soul” Buchanon and Noelle Giradeau, and we will draw inspiration from their work in photography and fiber arts.

This 12-week series will be inspired by our year-long theme of Linens and Laces, offered Wednesday evenings or Tuesday mornings. Join us for this deep dive into what it means to make a life, working by hand and discovering, through our writing and craft-making, the life you are meant to live.

The year will culminate in an optional international writing retreat to Portugal, where we'll continue our exploration of Making a Life through Portugal's rich textile traditions, the markets of Lisbon, and the creative practice of making by hand.

Register soon for this series—seats are limited! This program is open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Class size is intentionally kept small to ensure personalized attention.

Facilitator: Jennifer Wolfe, Executive Director
We hope to see you!

> “That's the thing with handmade items. They still have the person's mark on them, and when you hold them, you feel less alone.” ―Aimee Bender, The Color Master: Stories

Scholarships Available—Request an Application!!
Do not let finances get in the way of this experience. We have scholarship assistance available through the generosity of our donors, fundraising efforts, and grant support. We'd love to have you join us.

## NEW TO OUR CIRCLES? MORE INFO HERE

New writer? Remember, you don’t have to be a professional writer to join us. Use this class to learn more about Women Writing for (a) Change’s unique process, used by thousands of women across the country since 1991 to express their authentic selves through writing and community-building. We'll use prompts, poetry, and prose to practice many different writing techniques.

Experienced writer? If you decide to take the longer series, you'll have a chance to sharpen your craft and technique in our small-group circles. Bring whatever project you’re working on and expect thoughtful feedback from people you can trust. But if you choose to stay just for the sampler, that works too! Whatever helps you enliven your writing life.

## BACKGROUND

The Women Writing for (a) Change® school was founded in 1991 by Mary Pierce Brosmer, a practicing poet and former English teacher. She developed WWf(a)C to encourage women to find their voices, speak their truths, and tell their stories in a world in which they were often silenced. (womenwriting.org)

The Jacksonville-affiliated school was established in 2014 by Jennifer Wolfe, evolving into a nonprofit in 2018 and adding 11 certified facilitators in 2019, 2023, and 2025. Our intention is to expand our outreach and accessibility to a larger, more diverse audience.

> “A circle of women may be the most powerful force known to humanity. If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it. If you find one, for the love of all that is good and holy, Dive in. Hold on. Love it up. Get naked. Let them see you. Let them hold you. Let your reluctant tears fall. Let yourself rise fierce and love great. You will be changed. The very fabric of your Being will be altered by this. If you allow it. Please, allow it.”
>
> — Jeanette LeBlanc

Overview
Let's explore what it means to make a life, working by hand, as we fill our journals with the new worlds we are creating and expanding.
[photo from the cover of Making a life: Working by Hand]

### Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live

> “When we stop knowing how to use our hands to meet our most basic needs—we become estranged from nature, from the value and meaning of things, and from the empathy that we need to care for one another and our world.”

> —Melanie Falick, Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live

Fall Series: Making a Life
This fall we introduce our latest theme, Linens and Laces, focusing on the long lineage of weaving, spinning, and stitching practiced by the women who came before us. We’ll be reading Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live by Melanie Falick as we write our stories and weave together the threads of our own lives. We will explore the question of why working with our hands ”remains vital and valuable in the modern world.” The answer is found deep in our bones.

Our featured artists on the walls will be our newest Zora Neale Hurston Fellows, Deshonna “Sunflower Soul” Buchanon and Noelle Giradeau, and we will draw inspiration from their work in photography and fiber arts.

This 12-week series will be inspired by our year-long theme of Linens and Laces, offered Wednesday evenings or Tuesday mornings. Join us for this deep dive into what it means to make a life, working by hand and discovering, through our writing and craft-making, the life you are meant to live.

The year will culminate in an optional international writing retreat to Portugal, where we'll continue our exploration of Making a Life through Portugal's rich textile traditions, the markets of Lisbon, and the creative practice of making by hand.

Register soon for this series—seats are limited! This program is open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Class size is intentionally kept small to ensure personalized attention.

Facilitator: Jennifer Wolfe, Executive Director
We hope to see you!

> “That's the thing with handmade items. They still have the person's mark on them, and when you hold them, you feel less alone.” ―Aimee Bender, The Color Master: Stories

Scholarships Available—Request an Application!!
Do not let finances get in the way of this experience. We have scholarship assistance available through the generosity of our donors, fundraising efforts, and grant support. We'd love to have you join us.

## NEW TO OUR CIRCLES? MORE INFO HERE

New writer? Remember, you don’t have to be a professional writer to join us. Use this class to learn more about Women Writing for (a) Change’s unique process, used by thousands of women across the country since 1991 to express their authentic selves through writing and community-building. We'll use prompts, poetry, and prose to practice many different writing techniques.

Experienced writer? If you decide to take the longer series, you'll have a chance to sharpen your craft and technique in our small-group circles. Bring whatever project you’re working on and expect thoughtful feedback from people you can trust. But if you choose to stay just for the sampler, that works too! Whatever helps you enliven your writing life.

## BACKGROUND

The Women Writing for (a) Change® school was founded in 1991 by Mary Pierce Brosmer, a practicing poet and former English teacher. She developed WWf(a)C to encourage women to find their voices, speak their truths, and tell their stories in a world in which they were often silenced. (womenwriting.org)

The Jacksonville-affiliated school was established in 2014 by Jennifer Wolfe, evolving into a nonprofit in 2018 and adding 11 certified facilitators in 2019, 2023, and 2025. Our intention is to expand our outreach and accessibility to a larger, more diverse audience.

> “A circle of women may be the most powerful force known to humanity. If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it. If you find one, for the love of all that is good and holy, Dive in. Hold on. Love it up. Get naked. Let them see you. Let them hold you. Let your reluctant tears fall. Let yourself rise fierce and love great. You will be changed. The very fabric of your Being will be altered by this. If you allow it. Please, allow it.”
>
> — Jeanette LeBlanc

Join us to explore the themes of water, change, solace, and growth in this beautiful three-week class.

> “A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.”— Maya Angelou

Women wear many hats in both professional and personal roles, and we are often pulled in multiple directions. In this series, using the imagery of rivers, marshes, and the ocean, we will use our writing to explore the changing tides of nature and the rhythms they can teach us about honoring our own.

We especially invite women who spend their time caring for others; here you will find nurture and replenishment.

Join us as we explore how water invites us to rest and find solace, to navigate changing tides, and to embrace our own power.

Week I: The Strength and Peace of Still Water invites us to consider how we find nurture for ourselves and savor it. (Sept. 10)
Week II: In The Way of Pathfinding, we will consider the imagery of the meandering river as a symbol for life. (Sept. 17)
Week III: Changing Tides, as a metaphor for the ebb and flow of our life journey, from the gentle lapping of water at the shoreline to the rush of the ocean. (Sept. 24)

Class size: Limited. Please register early to ensure your spot.
Facilitator: Mary Kendrick Moore, certified facilitator with Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville. Open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Scholarships available if needed.
NOTE: Exact location to be sent upon registration.

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