2026 marks two anniversaries - the 250th of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 20th of Ellen Schmidt’s Ithaca-based writing community, Writing through the Rough Spots (WTRS). From across the US and 15 countries, more than 100 people have participated in Ellen’s classes. 

The "We Declare" project received a CAP "GAP" grant. The project is a recent outgrowth of WTRS, is a storytelling project which shares a curated selection of writing from both past and present WTRS workshop attendees, and includes live readings, video recordings and a self-published book. These personal stories are not editorials, but provide a snapshot into this moment in American history, a period with uncanny parallels to 1776. The stories amplify compelling voices with the goal of building greater community through increased understanding and empathy. 

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
Location: Kitchen...  Read more