Rise writers develop their stories through a painstaking draft process. Our writing workshops offer parents a safe place to reflect on their experiences, connect with peers and tell their stories. A typical workshop includes 6-8 parents and meets for two hours each week for 16 weeks. Rise runs writing groups at community partners including advocacy organizations, legal providers, foster care agencies and family support programs. Contact nora@risemagazine.org to bring a Rise workshop to your organization.
Interview with Jess Dannhauser, President and CEO
Graham Windham is a child welfare and youth development agency in New York City. A few years ago we sat down and talked about what we could do to further our support for parents. When we started to talk with parents about what they value, they said they valued their relationships with peers.
We thought that a Rise writing group for parents with children in foster care could add to … Read More
Five parents graduated from a Rise writing group at Graham Windham on June 14, 2016, celebrating 16 weeks of hard work to complete stories for publication. Pictured from left are Melissa Landrau, Mariya Kolesnichenko, Nelson Lopez, Rise Director Nora McCarthy, Rebecca Cedeño and Monique Diaz. Participant D’Juan Collins also completed a story.
This is the second year that Graham has hosted a Rise writing workshop for parents as part of its Family Success Program. Parents in the group … Read More
Caseworkers and supervisors at Sheltering Arms became the first foster care agency staff to complete a Rise writing workshop, developing stories that reflected on their work with parents. Stories explore how these professionals came to learn about, connect with and improve their work with parents. Their compassionate explorations of the difficult–but often rewarding–work with parents in crisis document how sensitive casework can make a difference in family’s lives. These writers will share their stories with … Read More
The Center for Family Representation, which represents parents in child welfare proceedings, hosted a Rise writing workshop for young parents who themselves grew up in foster care. Completed by four young parents, the workshop met weekly for 16 weeks, culminating in a presentation of their stories by two participants. This workshop was supported by the Pinkerton Foundation. Stories from this workshop include:
Family After Foster Care: I want my daughter to have the love and security … Read More
Sheltering Arms partnered with Rise in 2015-16 to run two writing workshops for foster care agency staff. Stories focused on the steps staff have taken to work effectively and establish positive relationships with parents. After the first writing group in spring 2015, staff shared their stories with Sheltering Arms senior leadership, and two participants read their stories at a Sheltering Arms board meeting. Rise published the first installment in Spring 2016, along with parent-written articles about working … Read More
