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Writespace Speaks

10/24/2019

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By Jamie Portwood, Writespace Administrative Assistant 
The word volunteer, by definition, is a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. In other words, a volunteer makes a gift of herself. A volunteer says, “I have these talents and abilities and I want to use them for a good purpose.” It is one of the only ways we can choose how our gifts and talents and abilities are used. That choice alone makes it an act of self-care. In fact, research shows that volunteering has immense health benefits, from decreasing the risk of depression to reducing stress to increasing a sense of purpose to developing relationships. 

I know that volunteering with Writespace has done that and more for me. When I first moved to Houston, I felt disconnected and isolated, all alone in the fourth largest city in the country.  By happy accident, I found a flyer for upcoming workshops at Writespace. I decided to take a workshop and loved it. I kept taking workshops. Then I noticed that Writespace was asking for volunteers. 

It was, I think, the first time that I was grateful for the administration skills I had acquired as an office manager. As soon as I began volunteering with Writespace, I felt like I had been plugged in. I met other volunteers who became friends, instructors who became friends. I became a part of the thriving arts community in Houston. I found a purpose that fulfilled me like nothing else. I belong to an organization that supports writers like me. What greater joy than to be a part of an organization that has given so much to me and other writers!

Volunteering with Writespace was one of the best decisions I ever made. 
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  • About
    • Blog >
      • Meet Our Members
    • Our Organization
    • Member Success Stories
    • People >
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Faculty >
        • Tanya Aydelott
        • Nyri Bakkalian
        • Andreana Binder
        • Mackenzie Bitz
        • Joyce Boatright
        • Julia Brown
        • Debbie Burns
        • Cynthia Childress
        • Cassandra Rose Clarke
        • Jessica Cole
        • Kartika Budhwar
        • Mark Dostert
        • Marlena Johns
        • Ynes Freeman
        • Mark Haber
        • Matthew Hefti
        • Adam Holt
        • Sarah Gajkowski-Hill
        • Angélique Jamail
        • Justin Jannise
        • Amal Kassir
        • Karleen Koen
        • Mike Kowis, Esq.
        • Kendra Preston Leonard
        • Phuc Luu
        • Lorenzo Martinez
        • Thomas H McNeely
        • Sean Morrisey Carroll
        • Ülrika Moats
        • Jody T. Morse
        • Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
        • Patricia Flaherty Pagan
        • Kate Pentecost
        • Kathryn Peterson
        • Joy Preble
        • Paige Quiñones
        • Icess Fernandez Rojas
        • Tamara Nicholl-Smith
        • Patrick Stockwell
        • Marian Szczepanski
        • Victoria Strange
        • ire'ne lara silva
        • Rebecca Spears
        • Catherine Vance
        • Holly Walrath
        • Charlotte Wyatt
        • D.L. Young
        • Joe Burns
        • Theodora Ziolkowski
      • 2020 Emerging Writer Fellows
      • 2019 Emerging Writer Fellows
  • Workshops
    • Creative Writing
    • Pace Yourself
    • Workshop Policies
    • Online Class Tech Support
    • Scholarships
  • Almost Free Events
    • The Whole Artist
    • The Submission Room
    • Write-Ins
    • Writespace Member Meetups
    • Readings & Open Mics
  • Writefest
  • Contact