Listen to our voices here and here!

Mission

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance provokes dialogue, builds community, and promotes change by creating opportunities for adults in Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods to write, publish, and perform works about their lives. These works are published in the award-winning Journal of Ordinary Thought.

Vision (NWA)

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance envisions a society where adults connect through creative communities in which writing, discussing, and publishing personal narrative leads to civic engagement, neighborhood vitality, and social transformation.

Vision (Journal of Ordinary Thought)

The Journal of Ordinary Thought publishes reflections people make on their personal histories and everyday experiences. It is founded on the proposition that Every Person Is a Philosopher. Expressing one’s thoughts fosters creativity and change, and taking control of life requires people to think about the world and communicate their thoughts to others. The Journal of Ordinary Thought is a vehicle for reflection, communication, and change.

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.
• Respect for both oneself and others promotes inclusion and advances understanding.