Neighborhood Writing Alliance

Chicago Amplified
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The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) provokes dialogue, builds community, and promotes change by creating opportunities for adults in Chicago's underserved neighborhoods to write, publish, and perform works about their lives. NWA hosts free writing workshops for adults in libraries and social service agencies during which participants tell their stories and make connections between their own histories and the experiences of others. Selected writing from the workshops is published quarterly in the Journal of Ordinary Thought (JOT), which was founded on the proposition that Every Person Is a Philosopher and strives to be a vehicle for reflection, communication, and change. NWA further amplifies the voices and stories from Chicago’s neighborhoods through public readings, local theatrical performances, its Ever Person Is a Philosopher Blog, and media coverage.

Recent stories by this author

Release Reading of "I Believed Every Word"

Listen in to a reading celebrating the release of "I Believed Every Word: JOT Writers on Urban Legends, Rumors, and Tall Tales," the winter 2012 issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought. This issue of JOT features writing from San Lucas Church, St. Leonard's House, and the Albany Park, Bezazian, Hall, King, and Mabel Manning Branch Library workshops.

Words = Change: Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Seminar

This public workshop introduces issues of sexual exploitation and trafficking in the Chicagoland area and includes personal testimony from an area survivor. 

Release Reading of "I Am Here"

Please join the Neighborhood Writing Alliance in celebrating the release of "I Am Here,” the fall 2011 issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought.This issue of JOT features writing from St. Leonard’s House and the Bezazian, Hall, and Mabel Manning Branch Library workshops.

Release Reading of "Testify": JOT writers on Creative Resistance: Art as Activism

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) is excited to announce “Testify,” the fall 2011 issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought.

Journal of Ordinary Thought Spring Release Reading of "Shell and Yolk"

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) is excited to announce “Shell and Yolk,” the Spring 2011 issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought.

The Best of JOT: A Year in Review

NWA presents "The Best of JOT: A Year in Review” at the 2011 Printers Row Lit Fest.

Every Person Is a Philosopher: An Anniversary Celebration Honoring Founders Hal Adams, Deborah Epstein, and Sunny Fischer

Every Person Is A Philosopher is a celebration and fundraiser supporting the Neighborhood Writing Alliance. This year we are celebrating 15 years of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance and 20 years of the Journal of Ordinary Thought.

Black History 101 Mobile Museum: Necessary Exhibit

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) is excited to partner with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, an innovative traveling table top exhibit of Black memorabilia spanning the eras of slavery to Hip Hop.

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