Write on Site: Penn Forest Natural Burial Park

An intergenerational writing workshop at the Penn Forest Natural Burial Park.

Part of the Write on Site Pop!Up series from Write Pittsburgh. For writers ages 13 and up.

About the workshop:

This special Write on Site workshop is part of the National Endowment of the Arts Big Read program. All year, our community is celebrating Ross Gay’s poetry collection, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, a sustained meditation on that which goes away—loved ones, the seasons, the earth as we know it—and tries to find solace in the processes of the garden and the orchard. 

During this workshop, we'll use Ross Gay's poetry and the 35-acre forest, wildlife preserve, and green burial site to explore the places where all—death, sorrow, loss—is converted into what might, with patience, nourish us. We'll read, write, and walk together, ending our time by co-creating a collective poem.

Participants will receive a copy of Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude and will have the opportunity to submit work to a citywide anthology. Light refreshments (biscuits, honey, and tea) will be provided.

Note on logistics: 

• We'll meet at the trailhead near the parking lot.
• Participants with mobility-specific disabilities are encouraged to contact info@writepittsburgh.com ahead of time so that we can adapt our plans to the needs of our writers.
• In the case of light rain, we will continue the workshop, so bring an umbrella or rain jacket if the weather looks drippy.
• In the case of thunderstorms or more severe weather, the workshop will be rescheduled and tickets will be refunded.

About your facilitators:

Cheryl Werber works in the human services field as an executive administrative assistant. She received her bachelor's from the University of Pittsburgh and her master's from Carlow University. Cheryl writes prose - creative nonfiction and fiction. She volunteers her time with various organizations, including Write Pittsburgh!

Dmitra Gideon is a writer, educator, and a founding member of Pittsburgh Family Liberation, a collective focused on mutual aid, advocacy, and community care for youth and families targeted by carceral systems. In addition to frolicking around behind the scenes at Write Pittsburgh, Dmitra facilitates workshops at Passages to Recovery and the Allegheny County Jail, and assists the Teen Council. Their writing has appeared in PANK Magazine, Trace Fossils Review, and new {words} press, among others. Their hybrid chapbook, Some Animals Eat Their Young, is available now from Another New Calligraphy.

Community agreement:

By registering and attending, you acknowledge that Write Pittsburgh provides an intentional writing community space. Anyone who uses hate speech, engages in disruptive behavior, or practices other behaviors determined to be antithetical to Write Pittsburgh's mission of amplifying voices, empowering writers, and building a strong writing community will be asked to leave the event immediately, without discussion and without refund.

It is imperative that all writers maintain proper boundaries during and after the workshop. Workshop participants above the age of 18 should not exchange any contact information, including phone numbers, emails, social media handles, or other forms of contact with workshop participants below the age of 18. Anyone seen crossing this boundary during the workshop will be asked to leave. Teen participants should alert a Write Pittsburgh facilitator if an adult participant attempts to exchange contact information or takes any actions that make them feel uncomfortable. By signing up, parents acknowledge that that there will be adult participants who are not screened employees or volunteers for Write Pittsburgh interacting with their children during this workshop.