Every community holds stories that rarely make it into the history books — stories of migration and resilience, of neighborhood transformation, of love, loss, and joy. Yet the people who live these stories often lack access to the spaces, mentorship, or encouragement to write them down. Put Your Story In A Book: A Community Writing Project was born from the belief that every voice matters — and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for healing, connection, and cultural preservation. By gathering together monthly at The Torch Center, participants, local residents, will create a space that embodies resilience and creativity. The setting itself becomes part of the story — a living symbol of Black entrepreneurship, community, and literary legacy. Many participants will come to Put Your Story In A Book: A Community Writing Project without having ever called themselves “writers.” Some may carry stories shaped by displacement, racism, or invisibility; others may come simply wanting to capture a family history or preserve a personal moment before it’s forgotten. Through writing prompts, mentorship, and shared reflection, they will begin to see that their experiences are not only valid but essential to the collective record of who we are, as a community. These gatherings will become more than workshops — they become community circles, where listening is as powerful as writing. Each voice strengthens another. Each shared story chips away at silence. In a time when division and erasure often dominate our public narratives, Put Your Story In A Book: A Community Writing Project offers something rare to find nowadays: a space to remember, to speak, and to be seen. It honors the idea that storytelling is not only an art form, but also an act of social justice — a way to claim space, preserve identity, and build bridges between people who might never have met otherwise. If you are interested in applying, please see application details below! Application can be found here (https://bit.ly/4wtnUav) and is due by 6/8/2026. Selected applicants will be notified by 6/12/2026. Workshops will be held at The Torch Center, located at 6406 N IH35 Frontage Road, Suite 1807 (at the LINC), from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, on six dates. Attendance is required to participate in this community project. A maximum of one session can be missed in order to be included in the anthology.
