Write On! Spring 2023: Applications will be accepted until March 9th.

LGBTQ+ Young Adults: Be A Part of Write On!

Young adults (ages 18-25) use your voice, write your truth, and inspire others!

Write On! is a writing and advocacy program for people who want to become powerful storytellers and self-advocates. If you are selected to participate, you will advance your skills as a writer, learn how to use writing as a therapeutic tool in recovery, develop the confidence to share your work through online media channels, and join an community of other young writers.

Classes will run virtually via Zoom on Thursdays beginning March 16th and ending April 27th with a "live" virtual reading on May 3rd. Class time will be 7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. All interested participants must complete the following application to be considered for entry into the Write On! program. Class size is limited to 25 participants.

Please submit your application by March 9th to be considered.

If you meet the following criteria, you will be considered as a candidate for selection:

1) I am a part of the LGBTQ+ community, am a young adult (age 18-25), and want to use writing and storytelling to improve my mental health and wellness journey (*Note: you may choose to have your work published under a different name)

2) I have goals of being a storyteller or writer (for personal or professional purposes), and can commit to attending and participating in an 8-week writing workshop

3) I can submit a writing sample of up to 500 words as a part of this application

Complete all questions in this survey.

Completing an application does not secure your spot in the course.

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* 1. Please indicate yes or no for the following statements:

	Yes	No
I have lived experience or a diagnosis in mental health and/or substance use condition	I have lived experience or a diagnosis in mental health and/or substance use condition Yes	I have lived experience or a diagnosis in mental health and/or substance use condition No
I consider myself as being in recovery	I consider myself as being in recovery Yes	I consider myself as being in recovery No

If you said yes, what does being in recovery mean to you?

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* 2. Name the top TWO reasons you are interested in taking this class:

I need help telling my story and want to improve my writing

I want to advocate for change and educate the community

I want to learn how to use writing as a part of my recovery

I want to become more confident and comfortable sharing my work with the general public

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Rate your current skill level as a writer:

Is there anything in particular with your writing that you’d like to work on? Examples: grammar, voice/tone, building a narrative, etc.

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* 4. Have you had any of your writing published previously? List anything, no matter how limited the audience (blogs, op-eds, school newspapers, etc.).

Yes

If yes, please specify

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* 5. How comfortable are you with social media and technology? Please indicate your participation/knowledge of the following – check all that apply.

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Blogging software

Basecamp, Google Docs, or other online project management software

None of the above

If you have a blog, what's the URL?

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* 6. How would you rate your comfort with technology?

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

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* 7. Please write 300-500 words about some facet of your mental health journey.

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* 8. Do you understand and agree to the following statements? (Click each response to confirm your understanding and agreement to the statement.)

I understand that if I miss more than two of the weekly in-person classes, I will lose my seat in the class.

I agree that my work will be shared through Mental Health Connecticut’s websites and social media platforms.

I understand that I am required to obtain my own equipment to access the weekly class via zoom.

I understand that this class will end in a reading and/or online publishing of my work. In other words, my story will be shared with the general public. I also understand that I have the option to publish under a different name if I so choose.

I understand that this class will take place during a pre-selected date/time (on Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. -9:00 pm EST. beginning March 16th and ending April 27th with a "live" virtual reading on May 3rd)

I am a young adult age 18-25

If you do not agree to any of the above statements, please specify which statement is of concern and why.

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* 9. Please complete the following fields:

Name *

Address *

Address 2

City/Town *

State/Province *

ZIP/Postal Code *

Email Address *

Phone Number *

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* 10. Please complete the following:

Special needs or requests (Type "N/A" or "none" if it does not apply to you)

Environmental concerns or other sensitivities (Type "N/A" or "none" if it does not apply to you)

Emergency Contact name

Emergency Contact phone number

Emergency Contact relation to self

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* 11. Grant funding for this program was provided by Macy's to provide Write On! to the LGBTQ+ community. The following application data (questions 11 & 12) will be shared with our grantor for reporting purposes only.

Which of the following best describes your current gender identity? (please check all that apply)

Cisgender female/woman

Cisgender male/man

Genderqueer, gender non-binary, or genderfluid

Transgender female/woman

Transgender male/man

Two Spirit

Prefer not to answer

A gender not listed here (please specify)

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* 12. Which of the following best describes your current sexual orientation? (Please check all that apply)

Asexual

Bisexual

Gay

Heterosexual/Straight

Lesbian

Pansexual

Queer

Questioning

Prefer not to answer

A sexual orientation not listed here (please specify)

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* 1. Please indicate yes or no for the following statements:

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* 2. Name the top TWO reasons you are interested in taking this class:

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* 3. Rate your current skill level as a writer:

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* 4. Have you had any of your writing published previously? List anything, no matter how limited the audience (blogs, op-eds, school newspapers, etc.).

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* 5. How comfortable are you with social media and technology? Please indicate your participation/knowledge of the following – check all that apply.

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* 6. How would you rate your comfort with technology?

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* 7. Please write 300-500 words about some facet of your mental health journey.

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* 8. Do you understand and agree to the following statements? (Click each response to confirm your understanding and agreement to the statement.)

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* 9. Please complete the following fields:

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* 10. Please complete the following:

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* 12. Which of the following best describes your current sexual orientation? (Please check all that apply)

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This class is offered completely free of charge with support from