About Me, About You workshop meets in NYC May 8, 2024 By Collegeville Institute Leave a Comment From April 22-28, the Collegeville Institute hosted ten writers in About Me, About You, a writing workshop by and for women of color, led by Roohi Choudhry. Held at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, the workshop focused on craft, the creative path, and using writing to expand limiting narratives about women of color both within their faith traditions and in American culture broadly. Bottom row, L to R: Vidya Murlidhar, Kim Goode, Joyce del Rosario, Angie Chatman. Middle row: Phoebe Farag Mikhail, Zat Jamil, Chichi Agorom, May Ye, Aiysha Malik. Top row: Jamie Eaddy, Roohi Choudhry Each day included a morning meditation, group discussion sessions about craft and the writing life, time to write together based on guided exercises, and personal, unstructured writing time. “Every element of this week’s workshop was important,” one participant wrote. With its mix of instruction and writing time, the week functioned as “both a writing workshop and a writing residency.” Participants expressed particular appreciation for Roohi’s teaching, selection of readings, and facilitation of group discussions. “She facilitated a space that felt safe and supportive,” wrote one participant. “Her caring thoughtfulness for our journeys was evident all throughout.” Beyond the daily schedule of writing and discussion, the workshop also featured community-building activities. These included a talk by novelist Kim Coleman Foote about inheritance, marginalized histories, and lineage; a visit to El abrazo, an immersive, multisensory exhibit by Delcy Morelos at the Dia Chelsea art gallery; and opportunities for participants to read their own work to each other. “The evening readings were phenomenal,” wrote one participant in their evaluation. “I am really in awe of the women who attended this workshop with me.” Kim Foote, author of Coleman Hill, facilitated a session around inheritance, marginalized histories and lineage Overall, multiple participants commented that this workshop provided real, practical support for moving their creative work forward. One participant commented that the workshop readings were deeply relevant to their own creative projects, and that conversations in the workshop “freed my mind a little bit from trying to squeeze my thoughts into a traditional model.” Another wrote, “It helped me feel unstuck when I was previously at a loss for how to move forward.” Like this post? Subscribe to have new posts sent to you by email the same day they are posted.
