may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that
An excerpt from Lucille Clifton, “blessing the boats” from
Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000.
Copyright © 2000
Dear WWf(a)C Community,
The strength of this organization is manifested in community and that is evident in the way we ripple out and back, in undulating patterns. We are, all of us, always moving and changing, but anchored by the practices that wait for us at each return to a writing circle. As I near the completion of my service as Executive Director, I look forward to participating in and facilitating future circles as a member of this beloved community. We have taken a journey together these past four years, and I am grateful for your trust in my leadership.
I am pleased to share with you that Diane Debevec has accepted the position of Interim Executive Director, effective January 1, 2024. As my mentor, colleague, and friend, I learned from and worked alongside Diane from 2018 until I assumed the leadership role in January of 2020. Previously, Diane served as Executive Director from 2012 to 2019. Diane has aways been a support to me and the extended community. Her love for Women Writing for (a) Change runs deep, as does mine. Please join me in giving your full support to Diane during this transition.
Diane will serve in this role as the Search Committee completes its intentional and thoughtful process to identify and hire the next Executive Director of Women Writing for (a) Change. This intergenerational committee is comprised of Board President Jane Pugliano, Board Trustees Diana Long, Licia Thompson, and Lindsay Way, and Facilitators Laurie Lambert and Hannah Simon Goldman. Four of the six members are also CFLA graduates. One can claim dual leadership credentials as a YFLA graduate. I am grateful for their dedication to this important work.
I’d also like to share with you this Progress Update from the Search Committee:
Several months ago, a Search Committee was formed with the goal of soliciting and evaluating applications for a new WWf(a)C Executive Director. The committee includes four members from the Board of Directors and two community members.
The committee has been meeting frequently (twice a week), engaged in developing and implementing a new process for hiring at WW that is resourceful, diligent, transparent, and fair. The job posting has been advertised at ArtsWave, Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News, and Indeed. The committee has been screening candidates; developing an interview process and interview questions; and creating selection criteria/an interview rubric. The WWf(a)C community has been encouraged to apply and direct potential candidates to our new career portal at womenwritingforachange.org. Applications from a number of qualified candidates have been received in the last several weeks through multiple channels and preliminary interviews are being conducted.
With love & gratitude,
Lisa