Submitted by K. Wensaut

Do you have a knack with words? Are you one of those secret scribblers who keeps a journal? Have you ever wanted to write but didn't know where to start? Everyone has a voice and something to share that is important.

How do we know the world but through the stories that we tell? Our world is made up of stories and everyday we are either hearing or telling stories - some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. Our world is alive with the power of stories. Some stories reach back into the past - our families, our histories, and our ancestors. Some stories are present and immediate - stories of friends, neighbors or coworkers. Whether we think of ourselves as storytellers or not, we are all engaged in the creative process of telling stories through the words that we speak. What are the stories that are happening in your life?

Writing is a way to tell those stories. The act of writing down our stories is powerful because it can be a tool for healing. Writing allows us to shape emotions and experiences in the way that we decide - in our own words.  Sharing our stories with others is sharing a part of ourselves and helps create community. Everyone has a unique voice and something special to share. How will you choose to share your stories with the world?

This summer the FCP Library, in cooperation with Behavioral Health Youth Prevention and the Potawatomi Traveling Times, is offering a unique chance to explore those questions with two talented and well-known Native American writers.

The Summer Creative Writing Workshop will run from July 28th to August 1st.  There will be two sessions - morning and afternoon. Participants may choose to attend one or both. Lunch will be provided and the week will wrap up with a community feast and public reading of the student's work. The workshops are free and open to youth and adults.

The morning session is Poetry/Fiction and will be taught by Roberta J. Hill. Roberta's session is called "The Wonder of Living on this Earth" and will explore ways to express our relationship to the earth through creative writing. Roberta is Oneida and teaches at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is a nationally known poet and has published two collections, "Star Quilt" and "Philadelphia Flowers." The afternoon session will be Journaling/Personal Narrative taught by Mark Anthony Rolo (Bad River Ojibwe).  Mark's session is geared towards youth and is called "My Voice, My Story."  It is designed to encourage youth to value their own voices and experiences and to express themselves in a healthy and positive way.  

Participants can expect a day filled with fun, laughter, learning and experience. Youth may participate through Behavioral Health's Youth Prevention conference, the Summer Youth Employment program, or with an adult parent or guardian. These workshops are intended for adults and youth grades 9 and up. A limited number of laptop computers will be provided. If you have your own notebook computer, please bring it along.  To register, call Kim at 478-4841 or Kerry at 478-4379.