Mission

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) provokes dialogue and promotes change by creating opportunities for adults in Chicago to write, publish, and perform works about their lives.

NWA presents the writers and their work in more than 25 to 30 events or readings each year. Our workshops are free and open to adults of all levels of writing experience. We are committed to providing creative programming in neighborhoods that offer few educational opportunities for adults beyond GED and ESL classes, in order to build a sense of community and generate discussion on issues important to Chicago residents. Participants in our workshops write primarily from their own experience, and, through both writing and discussion, often make connections between their personal experiences and broader social issues.

Hundreds of Chicago adults have participated in our writing groups in a range of settings, from public libraries and public schools (where parents participate), to social service agencies and public housing projects.

Values

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance believes:

• The arts are integral to enriching the lives of individuals, strengthening communities, and improving society at large.

• Its workshops, which are held in communities facing social and economic challenges, reflect the ethnic, racial, and economic make-up of the neighborhoods in which they meet.

• In addition to encouraging artistic excellence, its workshops and publications encourage open discussion and create public forums for sharing ideas and opinions, with a belief that respect for self and others advances tolerance and understanding.