Support For Our Community Amidst the Israel-Hamas War

Processing Through Community and Creation

A war has broken out in the Middle East, and the seemingly endless atrocities are impossible to comprehend. We grieve with all of those in and around the Girls Write Now community—and throughout the world—so profoundly impacted.

In the face of such tragedy, we hold fast to our family, friends, and loved ones, and find solace in the Girls Write Now community.

On this International Day of the Girl, our hearts go out to all of the women, girls, gender expansive individuals, children, and families enduring inexplicable cruelty.

Now, more than ever, we harness the power of our voices and stories to express empathy, to expand our understanding, to dialogue our way through complex problems, and to activate change wherever it is possible. Artistic creativity and wonder have always been among the leading forces in social change.

We encourage you to visit our resources and writing prompts below. Share what sustains you, in outlets where you feel safe.

• Tag us on social media (@girlswritenow). Let us raise our voices in pursuit of a better world.
• If you have additional resources and supports to offer to the Girls Write Now community, please send to us at communications@girlswritenow.org.

To Our Mentors, Mentees & Alum:

Join us at our Community Chat, Israel-Hamas War: Approaches to Processing and Discussing, this Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 PM ET. Professor of Undergraduate Social Work at Saint Leo University, Christina Cazanave, MSW, will show us how to employ a trauma-informed approach, have civil conversations, and listen with compassion.

Should you need additional support:

• For active mentors and mentees, you can access the “Contact Us” form in your portal. Staff are actively processing these and individually reaching out.
• Please utilize Girls Write Now’s Slack Workspace for peer-to-peer support on the “Mentor-Support” and “Mentee-Community” channels.
• Please utilize our resources, workshops, and studios to connect and create.
• Reach out to Director of Engagement, Erica Silberman, who can guide you to resources and connect mentors and pairs with a Wellness Advisor.

Resources:

• Resources For Educators, Families To Discuss The Events In Israel And Gaza With Students from San Diego County Office of Education (October 7, 2023)
• Books to Understand the Israel-Palestine Conflict from Penguin Random House
• How to talk to your children about conflict and war from UNICEF
• Handle With Care: Supporting Young People During Crises from SPLC, Learning for Justice
• Addressing Anti-Semitic Hate with Students from SPLC, Learning for Justice
• Countering Islamophobia from SPLC, Learning for Justice

Writing Prompts:

Mentors and mentees, use these lessons to write and process together.

• Writing Our Way Through War: Poetry for Processing Lesson Plan
• Salon: Explore What Home Means to You with Sepideh Moafi