About
Writers in the Community (WITC) is a not-for-profit internship project that sends MFA students to volunteer as creative writing teachers in placements as varied as hospitals, correctional facilities, halfway houses, community non-profits, as well as public, private, or alternative schools, and other locations throughout the Spokane area.
Beginning in the Spring of 2020, due to COVID-19, WITC had to restrict our sites to local schools because our community partners did not have the technology available to allow for distance learning. In AY 20/21, Interns taught at a variety of educational levels including upper elementary, middle school, and high school using distance learning technology. The interns teach at least eight weekly workshops that provide students with additional skills in creative writing. We hope to welcome back our community partners when we can do so safely.
WITC offers MFA candidates an invaluable opportunity to gain non-profit, community service, and instruction experience outside of the university environment. The internship prides itself on bringing art and creative writing to underserved or underrepresented communities. It thus allows MFA candidates to exercise that desire to act as global citizens and influencers of society which often goes hand-in-hand with being a writer.
WITC also publishes InRoads, an annual anthology of work collected throughout the year from all its placements, celebrating its students’ writing and creativity. WITC employs one Student Director (a second-year MFA candidate who receives a Graduate Service Appointment including tuition remission and a stipend) along with an InRoads Managing Editor (a first-year candidate working for internship credit) who often moves into the Student Director position the following year.
