YpsiWrites Announces 2024 Writers of Ypsilanti Award Winners

YpsiWrites, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports Ypsilanti writers, has introduced the 2024 winners of its annual Writers of Ypsilanti program.

“These are individuals who use writing for meaningful purposes,” said Ann Blakeslee, director of EMU’s Office of Academic and Community Writing and co-founder of YpsiWrites. “To advance the community, communicate important ideas and share what they are passionate about with the community”

The winners are Marc Arthur, Crystal Campbell, RJ Fox, Monica Hickson, Bradley Kraft, Georgia Krieger, Ruth Mella, Emma Rodseth and Ameera Salman.

“It’s an honor to be recognized in your own community for something that I devote so much of my passion and free time to,” said Fox, the Ann Arbor High School teacher.

“Being a member of the 2024 cohort has encouraged me to stay connected to my writing throughout my busy life,” said Rodseth, an Ypsilanti resident and employee of the University of Latin American Studies Center. Ohio State.

Interested individuals can self-nominate or receive nominations to be selected for the interview process, said Kristine Gatchel, a speaker at UEM and YpsiWrites director of programs and partnerships.

“I’m honored to be a part of this group of writers and even to be nominated,” said Mella, EMU student and Ypsilanti Youth Poet Laureate. “It encourages me to try harder as a writer and learn new things.”

Cohort members who spoke with The Echo received nominations through social media, writing group partners and facilitators.

Nominees were asked about YpsiWrites’ upcoming theme, “Sharing Our Stories,” and how they do that in their writing, Gatchel said.

“To me, the theme is a mix of things,” Rodseth said. “Personal stories and stories, identities, life journeys and all the ways they can be expressed. »

Even though the winners’ stories were so different from each other, they shared the same overlap of passion and commitment to their community and their writing, Gatchel said.

“I want to use this experience to encourage others to be creative and expressive,” Mella said.

“We really have a very diverse, engaged and fantastic group this year,” Gatchel said. “From the editor of The Echo, to a local teacher, to someone who is new to the area and has started their own writing group. »

Members of the 2024 cohort embody YpsiWrites’ message with their close alignment with the nonprofit group’s four pillars: community, advocacy, inclusiveness and support, Gatchel said.

“I want to give people a boost to continue pursuing their writing dreams,” Fox said.

YpsiWrites is a community writing resource that offers workshops, resources, programs, events, and activities for writers of all genres and ages.

Mella was able to expand her knowledge about mental health awareness through a YpsiWrites workshop, she said.

“Students can participate in any aspect of our programming,” Blakeslee said.

Many YpsiWrites events are virtual to encourage participation from community members, according to Blakeslee and Gatchel.

“The campus is part of the community, which means the community is part of the campus,” Gatchel said.

Although YpsiWrites is meant to encompass all Ypsilanti and not just students, it is important to recognize the effect EMU has had on the community, Gatchel said.

“At least four members of the cohort are current Eastern students or alumni,” Gatchel said.

YpsiWrites will host its Writer’s Room on campus on September 30.

The program also allows those who initially didn’t believe they could write to feel comfortable and confident as writers, Blakeslee said.

“Complete strangers coming together and sharing really personal things because writing is personal to a lot of people,” Blakeslee said. “They are affirmed and validated in that.”