Write Around Portland (writearound.org) amplifies voices, builds community, and changes lives through the power of writing. Since 1999, we’ve partnered with 278 agencies to hold free 10-week creative writing workshops for 8,800 adults and youth. We've also published 58 anthologies and held 265 public readings reaching almost 17,000 people. We do this work because we know writing is a powerful tool for expression, healing, and the realization of the dignity of oneself and others. Our work is grounded in our core values – respect, writing, and community.

Write Around Portland is comprised of a talented, dedicated, and diverse community of workshop participants, volunteers, staff, board, and supporters. We are committed to understanding and changing historical legacies of inequity and patterns of oppression – read about our racial equity work at writearound.org/about. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

Write Around Portland is a safe haven for connection and revitalization in a difficult world. Our community of participants, volunteers, and supporters is one of the most diverse and dynamic communities you’ll find. Rooted in shared principles of human dignity, equity, and the personal exchange of stories, Write Around strives to be a model for how our society can become more humane. If you’re our next Executive Director, you’ll get to lead this community as we face the challenges of a changing world. 

Write Around has been doing our core programming for more than 22 years, and as we’ve evolved, we’ve documented our policies and procedures extensively and hundreds of local writers have been trained in our workshop model. You can draw on that rich history as you help the organization grow; our next ED will have the opportunity to develop existing staff and hire new staff to augment that leader’s strengths. 

Our work has changed many thousands of lives. You’ll work with hundreds of volunteers and participants each year, and because you’ll be working with writers who are eager to share their experience, many will tell you exactly how you’ve made a difference in their lives. This job is the chance to do work that is an overwhelmingly positive force in peoples’ lives and in our communities.

COMPENSATION

$67,500

HOW TO APPLY

Click here for more information or to apply. Please submit an application packet that includes:

-- A cover letter explaining how you have the qualifications, experience, and passion to be the next Executive Director of Write Around Portland. 

-- A separate statement (of no more than 250 words) about how you’ve advanced equity and anti-racism in work environments and/or in the community.

-- A detailed resume that speaks to the qualifications listed above.

-- The names, contact information, and professional affiliations of four professional references. (We won’t contact your references until we’ve cleared it with you.)

 Please send your materials to the Search Committee at [email protected], with “Write Around Executive Director” in the title. Please also email us at this address to request any accommodations you would like made during this hiring process. We will keep your application confidential, and you’ll soon receive an acknowledgment email.