Dear GrubStreet Community,

As I write my final note to you as GrubStreet’s Executive Director, I am filled with gratitude.

Twenty-eight years ago, when I started GrubStreet, the literary world was starkly different, almost entirely gated by university MFA programs and literary associations. There were very few ways for people without the time or money to enter the MFA system to develop as artists and find community. GrubStreet provided that space, and the hunger for it was clear. Before we turned two, we had hundreds of students. We also had our first book publications, demonstrating that we could thrive as writers on our own terms, without gated classrooms or legacy permission structures.

As the publishing world evolved with the rise of technology, social media, and self-publishing, we pivoted alongside it, encouraging our writers to think anew about publishing pathways and to be strategic in marketing their work. To more fully live our values, we changed our mission and financial model to remove barriers to access, advocating for and building a writing community that is representative of the people who make up our world.

Though we’ve evolved in many ways, what’s stayed the same since our very first workshops is the deep sense of community and connection created by writing and sharing stories together. It’s been a profound honor to witness just how much of the beauty, kindness, and courage created in our classrooms spills out into the larger world via books, friendships, empathy, and understanding.

Given the dark moment we find ourselves in with attacks on freedom of expression, book bans, the rise of hate, and deep division, communities like ours which support writers, promote freedom of expression and the narrative arts, and bring people together across differences to learn and grow alongside each other are more essential than ever.

And it’s up to each of us who are a part of this vital community to sustain it. I am a monthly donor and plan to continue my monthly giving next year and beyond. If you’ve created work you are proud of, published, met your best friends, expanded your thinking, received a scholarship, or benefited from our programming in any way, I hope you’ll join me in giving. Gifts of all levels make a difference.

It’s been an honor and privilege to build and nurture this singular community in partnership with you. Our success is a testament to your dedication, creativity, and generosity. Thank you.

With appreciation and love,
Eve Bridburg