"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
So said Virginia Woolf in her famous work, "A Room of One's Own." A Woman's Place (AWP) volunteers, Stephanie Payne McBride and Carla O'Dell are taking action and bringing together victims of domestic violence to show that with a few key resources, individual and community support, and space, great fiction and so much more move from possibility to reality.
"I am deeply appreciative of the gift that I am getting from this process," shares McBride. "Writing has done so much for me during different periods of my life. Being able to share that with others and, hopefully, help to create a safe environment and space for these incredibly strong individuals to find their own voices and own healing is as much a gift for me as it may be for them."
Said O'Dell, "In addition to a successful career writing and editing, I worked as a teacher. Being in a classroom on September 11th and caring for children in my classroom who had to deal with losing a parent, I was witness to the power that writing can have in our lives."
McBride and O'Dell have come together to launch a writing group for victims of domestic violence at AWP. Meeting weekly, participants in the group will have the opportunity to express emotions and experiences in new, positive ways as they engage in creative actions that have the power to energize them while enhancing their overall health and well-being. What is shared and what remains private will be determined by each individual.
As one participant offered, "I wrote to sort through my feelings about my ex-partner, to catalog incidents. I haven't written about or for me in a long time. I'm enthusiastic about what will come from this."
Initiatives like this one are vital because they make space for the many dimensions that each person has. "The individuals that we serve are so much more than just victims," remarked Associate Director Ifeoma Aduba. "They are parents, siblings, friends, co-workers. They have good days and bad days, just like you and me. And like you and me, they need space - a room of one's own - to be able to safely explore all of their dimensions and freely give voice to their discoveries. That two such talented women are volunteering to make this possible is an invaluable gift, particularly when given at a time when limited funding puts programs like these on hold."
When people volunteer, they become catalysts. Their actions spark a multiplying effect and inspire others. What is possible is an exponential increase in service and support that ripples through individual lives, families, and our community - creating long-term change.
"We can't do this alone," said McBride and O'Dell in invitation. "The generosity of the participants in the group is monumental. Support from the community will make this a truly awe-inspiring venture - for all of us."
AWP's writing group needs your help and with just a few clicks and a few minutes of your time you can do just that. Click here to link to the writing group's Wish List and help by purchasing some low-cost supplies.
Thank you for helping to build a room of one's own.