Saginaw Valley State University

Center for Community Writing

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Painted mural on side of bus

Community Outreach Projects

Because we believe good writing happens inside the community, the Community Writing Centers collaborate with community organizations to provide on-site workshops for community residents, along with community events that focus on writing. Our current and past workshops and events are listed below:

Justice Library, Community Read Saginaw

Join us in reading and discussing Octavia Butler’s Kindred, a timely, provocative read when it was first published in 1979—and now, in the aftermath of the recent Black Lives Matter movement in our country, even more so. We are pleased to collaborate with the Saginaw Public Libraries, the Saginaw Art Museum, the Ezekiel Project, and the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum to sponsor this community read for Saginaw, with virtual discussion dates set for late January and February 2021. To get a free copy of the book or to learn more, visit http://www.justicelibrary.org/communityread/?fbclid=IwAR2UMxsAu2l78Fy_lCE-8KiAWG1ngn70Xqa4WP--dun4ZoSsoliG1JayvHw.

 

Past Projects

Roethke Bus Mural

In Fall 2020, artist Pauly Everett painted a mural on the outside of a Saginaw city bus, as part of the upcoming 2022 Roethke Poetry and Arts Festival. This mural celebrates the legacy of Theodore Roethke and the city of Saginaw, created through a collaboration between the Saginaw Transit Authority and Regional Services (STARS), The Community Writing Center, and the Michigan Arts and Humanities Council.

"Dear Future President" Postcard Project

What would you like to say to the Future President of the United States? What are your hopes, your concerns, or your goals for this country? The "Dear Future President" Postcard Project encouraged writers to share their thoughts with the next President. Responses were no longer than 200 words. We collected all the postcards (print and electronic) and mailed them to our newly elected President on Inauguration Day. The deadline for submissions was November 1, 2020 (prior to the election).
 
"Dear Future President" postcard

"Saginaw, I Believe" Poetry Postcard Contest 2020

In 2020, we partnered with the Ezekiel Project to asked members of Saginaw to write about their city on postcards designed by Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy middle school students. 205 residents sent in postcards, which were displayed at the SVRC Marketplace in downtown Saginaw. Four poems were reprinted and mounted inside the ten city buses than run throughout Bay County through the Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services (STARS).

“The Quarantine Chronicles” 2020

The SVSU Center for Community Writing partnered with the Saginaw Art Museum and other community organizations to create “The Quarantine Chronicles,” a website featuring artwork and writing from members of the GLBR about their experience during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Poetry, poems, journal entries, artwork, photography, music, interviews, multi-media files, or other art captured what it feels like to live during this time. https://www.saginawartmuseum.org/quarantinechronicles/

Little Free Library at SVRC Marketplace 2020

In 2020, the SVSU Wolohan Fellows partnered with students from Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy to create artwork to decorate another LFL, which is located in the SVRC Marketplace in Saginaw. Stop by and take a book or leave a book!

Little Free Library at Wenonah Park 2019

 In 2019, a fourth-grade class from Bangor Elementary School worked with the SVSU Kanzler Fellows to design and create our first LFL, and the entire school conducted a book drive to stock the library with great books for all ages. This LFL is located at Wenonah Park in Bay City. Stop by and take a book or leave a book!

"Postcards to the Future Michigan Governor" 2018

During October 2018 the community writing centers, in conjunction with SVSU and the YWCA, sponsored a "Dear Future Michigan Governor" postcard campaign. Any Michigan resident was invited to use a pre-made postcard to share their thoughts, hopes, and/or concerns with the future governor of our state. Over 3,000 postcards were also distributed to 18 different school districts in Michigan. These postcards were collected and mailed to the incoming governor in January. These postcards have been featured in The Detroit Free Press.

Future Governor Postcard (301KB)   

"Write In" Creative Writing Workshops at the Saginaw County Youth Protection Council's Teen Homeless Shelter 2017

In the summer of 2017, SVSU the Saginaw Community Writing Center provided a creative writing workshop for homeless teens of Saginaw County. This workshop focused on personal writing and poetry, encouraging the participants to use creative writing as a form of self-expression. This program was sponsored by the Saginaw chapter of My Brother's Keeper.

"Postcards to the Future President" 2016 

During October 2016, the SCWC sponsored a "Dear Future President" postcard campaign. Any member of the Saginaw community was invited to use a pre-made postcard to share their thoughts, hopes, and/or concerns with the future leader of our country. These postcards were collected by October 31 (although a few filtered in after election day) and mailed to the White House on  January 11, Inauguration Day. Over 200 postcards were mailed from residents in the Saginaw community. 

SCWC DearFuturePresidentPostcardPDF (452KB)