The Encourager
A Creative Outlet
2024-2025 · Lenses: Words, Websites, Collaboration, Community Work, Actual Sincerity · Roles: Concept, Writing, Design, Web Design, Development, Collaboration, Community Organizing, Civic Service
In early 2024, I was thinking a lot about how many interesting and talented friends I had and decided to find a way to showcase their work (and some of my own). I built a WordPress site called "The Encourager" and set up a newsletter, inviting anyone who knew me to submit work.
For a couple years, I emailed and posted creative work by my pals tryweekly (that is, I tried to put it out weekly, but usually it was more like every couple weeks). Over that time, 28 friends sent me work ranging from sculpture to sketch comedy to textile work to competitive tablescaping.
Despite it being a very fun and rewarding project, The Encourager has been dormant for a while – mainly because I felt like I was constantly nagging/begging people to send me more work instead of encouraging them. I'd be happy to take it back up if you, the person reading this, wants to submit something! In fact, I encourage it!