Veterans Writing Workshop

Philadelphia-based nonprofit Warrior Writers will lead a generative writing workshop for veterans at the Writers House from 4:30-6 pm. This creative workshop offers prompts that cover a variety of military issues and experiences. This encourages sharing stories, opinions, and ideas for productive writing/reflecting/story-telling and art-making. A highlight of these workshops for many veterans is having a space to release bottled-up thoughts among others who understand, creating a sense of empowerment in the ability to tell their own story. By creating an open and accepting atmosphere, we build a community of support. Workshops are for any service member or veteran regardless of experiences with writing, combat, art, deployment, etc.

About the Workshop Leaders 

Chantelle Bateman is a mother, writer, and mixed medium visual artist currently residing in Philadelphia, PA. After returning home from Iraq in 2005 and battling years of undiagnosed post-traumatic stress, she met other veterans who were using art as a tool for healing and direct action. Now, as a creative activist, facilitator, and community organizer she works to support processes of transformative justice and healing. She is a member of the Warrior Writers Steering Committee and on the Steering Committee of FAAN (Fostering Activism and Alternatives Now). Chantelle is also a 2013 Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grant recipient, and her creative works have been published in two Warrior Writers books, After Action Review and Warrior Writers Fourth Anthology, featured in the film, Out of Step, and exhibited at the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago.

Lovella Calica is a writer, photographer and multi-media artist. With backgrounds in Human Development, English and social justice organizing, she offers a unique perspective and develops creative, collaborative ways of organizing and communicating. She is the founder and director of Warrior Writers, a creative community for veterans articulating their experiences. She has edited four anthologies of veterans’ writing/artwork entitled: Move, Shoot and Communicate, Re-Making Sense, After Action Review and Warrior Writers. Lovella has received three Art and Change grants from the Leeway Foundation and was honored with the Transformation Award in 2009. She self-published her first chapbook of poetry Makibaka: Beautifully Brave and Huwag Matakot: Do Not be Afraid. Her next book of poetry and creative non-fiction is due out this winter. Lovella is a co-founder of the Pilipino-American artist collective, Tatlo Mestiz@s and served on the board of Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia. She has trained staff of arts organizations and universities around the country on how to better work with and understand veterans. Lovella has worked closely with veterans for over 10 years, primarily post 9/11 veterans. She is part of the caregiver program at the Philadelphia VA and is helping build a support network for caregivers.

Please RSVP to this workshop by emailing Leah Falk (leah.falk@camden.rutgers.edu) by November 15. 

Please also join us for Outside the Wire: New Veterans Writing, a reading and discussion on November 17.