Homeless shelters in Fredericton are offering writing workshops to the people who live there, as the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging residents to express themselves.
Other workshops ranging from gardening to photography are also being offered.
“On the bigger scale, it’s really looking at taking people who are incredibly marginalized and giving them a voice, teaching them how to use their own voice, and develop their own voice,” says Warren Maddox, the executive director of Fredericton Homeless Shelters.
“Helping people understand and discover that they do have talent, that they can do something and create something amazing.”
Vanessa Foss, the shelter’s transition planner, says eight residents are signed up for the writing workshop. She says some of those taking part haven’t written anything in recent memory.
“Others have written some poems and they’re really excited to get going on it …use different techniques they weren’t aware of to voice their story and tell everyone what they’ve gone through up to this stage in their life,” says Foss.
A recent photography workshop ended with a final product that impressed many at the shelter.
“It became evident early on that there is talent amongst our residents and population,” says Maddox. “And then it became unbelievably clear when we did the photography workshop that there is amazing talent out there, and it just needs to be nurtured a little bit, to be given a chance to grow and to develop.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
