Blossoming

“I have my new life plan!” That’s what one participant exclaimed at the end of one of our writing workshops recently. Though that wasn’t the goal of this particular evening, having the time to write in community and sit with her thoughts had planted seeds of clarity. Watching people grow and blossom is one of the joys of working at RCWMS. And your support is the sun, rain, and fertilizer that creates these opportunities for transformation.

Ten years ago you supported the creation of a film about environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck called Blackbirds, Bottle Caps, and Broken Records. Then last year, your gifts helped publish her book, The Last Straw, which focuses on reducing single-use plastic. Building on the success of Bryant’s book and the popularity of art workshops at the beach with Sue Sneddon, we’re planning new programs that combine creative expression with attention to the natural world. Your gifts will be crucial to support this new focus on Art and the Environment. With very real threats to the climate and the earth, it is critical for us to bring a deep spiritual awareness to our natural surroundings.

It’s also vital for us to continue challenging racism. We’re grateful for your support of Melanie Morrison’s course, Doing Our Own Work: An Anti-Racism Workshop for White People. By offering this training once last fall and again in the spring, thirty people have undergone deep inner work, learning to dismantle racism within themselves and in their surroundings.

We are excited to announce the new Anita McLeod Internship, beginning this fall. Named for our beloved former board chair and supported by generous funding from her husband, Mike McLeod, the internship program will focus on developing intergenerational programming. Your gifts have helped us reach more younger women, while continuing our work with aging and end-of-life issues.

This summer we need to raise $4,500 to develop our new program on Art and the Environment and to offer more programs on spirituality for all ages. For example, we’ve received lots of interest in the Enneagram workshops from folks over forty, so we’d love to offer another series open to all.

As always, I’m grateful for your gifts that act as the sunshine and rain that nurture so many.