The Future is Now: Director Charles Jensen

In the six months since I joined The Writer’s Center staff, I’ve marveled at this organization’s heart. I was overwhelmed by it when I met so many excited and engaged people at my welcoming reception in July. I’ve continued to be struck by the amount of passion our community feels for The Writer’s Center throughout the year—at our events, in our workshops, and through correspondence and discussions with many wonderful writers and members.

It’s a gift to be given this kind of job in a beloved organization. And I know that it comes with the responsibility of keeping it such a big part of everyone’s lives.

Already this year we’ve debuted The Carousel, the redesigned version of our merged Writer’s Carousel and Guide to Events and Programs. Thank you to everyone who contacted us with your thoughts when you received it. We look forward to developing The Carousel into a significant part of our organization, and it will continue to serve as our official communication magazine.

This spring we’ll have about 11 new workshop leaders providing courses for you. We’re so excited about these new workshops and hope you’ll be persuaded to give one—or some—of them a try.

But what I feel most about The Writer’s Center is that we can truly become an essential part of the regional community. We’ve been busy forging partnership with other arts organizations, other nonprofits, and even for-profit businesses in order to serve you better--like Gaffney's Restaurant right around the corner, who has graciously agreed to cater our birthday celebration on Saturday; or Hot Breads, who donated a cake to our Poet Lore birthday and here again on TWC's birthday. Particularly in tough economic times, the spirit of collaboration and cooperation made in these partnerships will keep us strong, keep us tough, and keep us moving toward success.

The Writer’s Center is and will continue to be a place people want to be, where all are welcome to pursue writing, participate in a community, and have their lives enriched through literature.