The Stories We Tell, our testimonial writing workshop for survivors of gender-based violence, is coming to Chicago in October. Apply today!
Developed to help those who have lived through or witnessed gender-based violence or other human rights violations use their voices, faces, and stories to call the public to greater compassion and social action, our Center for Story & Witness testimonial writing program isn’t just developing writers. It’s creating community.
We ground our writing program in a simple belief: That we are here to be heard.
During each immersive, two-day Stories We Tell workshop, a cohort of emerging and established artists, writers, activists, and survivors come together to read and discuss culture-changing literature from across history and various social justice movements…take part in a series of innovative, real-time writing exercises…and share their creative work in moderated, expert-led workshopping sessions.
Meet our Center for Story & Witness writing workshop instructor, R. Clifton Spargo, and facilitator, Anne K. Ream.
Our testimonial writing program was co-created by novelist R. Clifton Spargo, a lecturer in creative writing at Yale University and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and activist Anne K. Ream, author of Lived Through This, her memoir of a global journey spent listening to survivors of gender-based violence. They look forward to being in community with you!
THE STORIES WE TELL:
A testimonial writing workshop for survivors and witnesses to gender-based violence.
October 10-11, 2026
Simmons Center for Global Chicago
Chicago, IL
Applications due: Sept. 10, 2026