Springfed-MDW Hosts Community Outreach
Programs in 2005 & 2006

Please note that your MDW membership dollars do more than bring a few famous poets & writers to town for workshops and readings. We have sponsored and fully supported a Senior Citizen creative writing workshop at The St. Clair Shores Senior Center for close to 7 years now. This program is open to seniors everywhere and FREE. It is offered every Wednesday at 12:30pm at The St. Clair Shores Senior center located at 20000 Stephens St, St Clair Shores, MI 48080. Anyone can attend. It continues to be taught by local educator Bud Flemming from St. Clair Shores. The current sessions will run through mid-December, and it will start up again after the holidays. In addition, the Seniors do monthly Open Mic Readings at The Galley Cafe inside The St.Clair Shores Library. For directions to the Senior Activity Center, please call them at (586) 445-8776.
In addition, we have started an "Arts for the Spirit Program" for staff working for The Oakwood Hospital System.

This Fall, M. L. Liebler hosted a number of introductory sessions for staff at various hospital sites, and in November he and Cheri L. Roberts (poet, our Boysville Volunteer Facilitator and Outreach Director for MDW ) will facilitate weekly sessions. Next year, the program will expand to more staff workshops and creative writing sessions for patients. Initiated by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer J. Joseph Diederich, "the "Arts for the Spirit" program is designed to improve quality of healing and care giving by bringing the world of music and art to Oakwood patients, visitors and staff." MDW member Lisa Rutledge, Manager of Community Benefit, is the on site Director of this program. For more information on this unique program and collaboration e-mail Lisa.Rutledge@oakwood.org and visit http://www.oakwood.org/Visitors/visitors_
detail.asp?ContentId=1203

Many Thanks to Local Volunteer Writers!

Cheri L. Roberts and Metro Detroit Writers would like to thank recent local volunteers who gave of their time, energies and talents to read for the Boysville population at Martin Luther King House in Clinton Township.

We’d like to thank:
Diamondancer, Joe Ferrari, Robert G. Taylor, Nathaniel Kearns, Valerie Taylor, Melissa Wilson and our very own M.L. Liebler! Future writers on the schedule include: Randall G. Thomas and Robert Fanning.
These writers know the value and meaning of community outreach and we very much appreciate their efforts!
 
M.L. Liebler, Director of Metro Detroit Writers is proud to announce the appointment of Cheri Roberts as our new Outreach Director. Cheri has an MFA from Vermont College and has been teaching in the area for several years. Liebler said, “We are proud to have this new position filled as serving is such an important part of being writers and teachers.”

When asked, Cheri Roberts said, “I am honored to be in a position that will allow us to create more community outreach programs in places where the power of the written and spoken word can do much to create hope and enrich the lives of those who have not yet tapped in to their own creative potential. My goal is to find volunteers among our many talented writers to give of their time and energies to assist in these programs. If you would like to be a part of this vital and meaningful work, please contact me at Cherrion@aol.com . I am looking for volunteers willing to teach workshops (either ongoing or as special events) give readings and hold craft discussions, help with possible book drives and supplies (can’t write without pen and paper) and otherwise give support to the programs (including monetary support to Metro Detroit Writers).”
 
Here in Metro Detroit we are blessed with a caring and involved community of great writers and teachers and I have every confidence that we can do some incredible things! I’m looking forward to hearing from you all!