"Everyone Can Write!"

"Write Here, Write Now!" the SLCC Community Writing Center beacons. The Salt Lake Community College's Community Writing Center (CWC) is here and waiting to assist anyone interested in improving writing skills.

The CWC was founded in 2001. Originally, it was located downtown in the Artspace Bridge Project. Since 2005, it has been in the east plaza of Library Square, Suite 8. This site makes the community outreach to certain events, such as the Utah Arts Festival, much more possible.

The Community Writing Center offers workshops as well as coaching from writing coaches. The CWC strives to add diversity to everyone's writing abilities to help enhance skills in everyday situations. (When working on academic, SLCC assignments, students are encouraged to use the Student Writing Center, which has three convenient locations.) Anyone in need of filling out an application to express oneself creatively is welcome. New activities are always being organized within the writing center.

To get started at the CWC, simply register. It costs nothing to register or sign up for services provided. There is a small cost for some workshops unless you are student at SLCC. The CWC is here to help.

Workshops at the Community Writing Center include a wide range of interests and writing tactics. People interested in attending a workshop must sign up in advance due to limited amount of space for participants. Workshops are open to the public and cost anywhere from $10 to $45. They are free to SLCC students with a OneCard.

Some of the upcoming workshops provided include, "The Beat of Your Own Drum," a creative writing workshop for teens and "Writing As A Rolling Stone," travel writing how-to's.

Other examples of helpful workshops are dealing with resumes, writer's block, blogging, and personal interviews.

The CWC also offers a way to participate in The DiverseCity Writing Series. When participating in the writing series, writing groups are mentored twice a month to review writings, trigger new inspiration, and prompt writings.

A result of The DiverseCity groups, a book is formed once a year. All of the groups of writers' collections are published in this book. These groups participate in live readings to share their work.

This year, outreach efforts are geared towards individuals in low-income communities. Individuals 13 to 18 years old are the prime target to be mentored by a college student.

Andrea Malouf, assistant director of the Community Writing Center, believes young kids' working and relating with college students is a positive and uplifting experience

The publication for the youth group is the Teenzine. The Teenzine is filled with writings of each youth group and complimentary photos.

Students looking for an internship can also go to the CWC for school credit. English writing majors, public relations and marketing internships are available at the Writing Center. Interns will work to expand the program in all areas in the center.

"I think the internship has really got me excited for my career," said 23-year-old communications major Brian Short. "It was cool that I could get college credit for it too."

Volunteer work is available and may be used as community service hours. Employees as well as volunteers are necessary to make the Community Writing Center run smoothly. Volunteers and employees will be working as DiverseCity Writing Series mentors, writing coaches, and workshop facilitators.

The CWC is currently looking for two college student volunteers to mentor the youth DiverseCity Writing Series group.

"There are a lot of opportunities to do research," said Malouf. "The writing center is for anyone who wants a way to get involved with the community."

The Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center is here for the community and students' utilization. "Write Here, Write Now."

"[It is] a great place for creative pursuit and to discover who you are," says Malouf.

For additional information and to register go to: http://www.slcc.edu/cwc