For Women | Youngwritersaustin

Women's Journaling Classes

NEW CLASS!

Creating Social Justice from Within

Join me for this online, collaborative workshop featuring Jess White, Professor of Sociology at University of San Diego. Jess specializes in courses on social justice, gender, families, bodies and cultural diversity.

Session 1

Tuesdays

5/27, 6/3, 6/10

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm CST

Thursdays

5/29, 6/5, 6/12

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Session 2

Tuesdays

7/8, 7/15, 7/22

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm CST

Thursdays

7/10, 7/17, 7/24

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Registration for each session is $295.

Sessions are on Zoom and capped at ten participants to ensure a small, supportive space. To register, email Jennifer at youngwritersaustin@gmail.com or Jess at jesswhite77@gmail.com

CREATING SOCIAL JUSTICE FROM WITHIN (a workshop for women and women-identifying individuals) What systems of oppression are roaming around in your body, mind, and spirit, preventing you from living your best life? How will healing the wounds in yourself through journaling and dynamic discussion transform the collective? In this intimate workshop series, led by Jennifer Hritz, PhD, and Jessica White, MA, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a new version of yourself—one that’s free from the internalized limitations our society often imposes on women and women-identifying individuals. Generations of oppression have embedded us with the belief that we should prioritize others’ care over our own. This workshop is a space that encourages participants to build themselves up authentically, reclaiming joy, peace, and personal freedom.. Through journaling and facilitated discussions, we’ll examine where we allow systems of subjugation into our lives and begin to embrace the power to resist societal norms. How does freeing ourselves from the constraints of a patriarchal, heteronormative society lead to collective healing? WE are the consistent factor, no matter how much the world is spinning. WE are the center, the core, creating a strong foundation for whatever happens next. Creating Social Justice from Within is a three-part series. We’ll meet twice a week for ninety minutes, three weeks in a row. Week 1 Dismantling Patriarchal Thinking and Embracing Matriarchal Wisdom Understand the differences between patriarchal and matriarchal systems, deconstruct our assumptions, and decolonize our minds so that we can envision authentic self-love and community. Week 2 From Gremlins of Self-Doubt to Radical Self-Love Delve into how various forms of oppression impact our self-perception and bodies, and lean more into the power of radical self-love. Week 3 Creating Democratic Relationships Discover how to foster relationships rooted in self-love and interdependence that create nurturing communities which empower everyone. We'll begin each session with a short, grounding meditation. Discussion and journaling will follow. Though conversations may be spirited at times, this space will not be one of rabid political discussion or judgment. Our conversations and journaling will stem from short, soul work assignments (viewing a suggested TEDx talk, reading an enticing paragraph, perusing a piece of artwork). You have plenty going on without us adding to your workload! Questions? Feel free to reach out! We're happy to answer any you might have.

In order to heal the collective, we have to heal ourselves.

Jess White, MA is a dedicated sociology educator with over a decade of teaching experience across multiple institutions including the University of San Diego, Mesa College, San Diego City College and San Diego State University. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from San Diego State University, where her thesis focused on gender representation in educational materials, and a BA in Women’s Studies from Arizona State University.

Jessica specializes in courses on social justice, gender, families, bodies, and cultural diversity, and is recognized for her inclusive pedagogy, impactful curriculum design, and student-centered teaching. She has received multiple awards for her teaching excellence, including the Golden Apple Award (City College Faculty of the Year), MESA Faculty of the Year, and Outstanding Faculty Honoree by the Mortar Board Society. A committed advocate for educational equity, she is also a Rainbow Educator and longtime member of interdisciplinary social justice initiatives.

Beyond academia, Jessica has held leadership roles in community engagement, youth development, and voter education. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to empowering others through education, activism, and mentorship.

ALS0

The Mourning Pages

Join me as we process emotion through journaling. Writing experience not necessary!

Sundays

5/4, 5/18, 5/25

*no class 5/11

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

$120

Random

Tuesdays

5/13, 5/20, 6/3, 6/10

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

$160

Classes are in person and capped at five women to ensure a small, supportive space.

Jennifer Hritz's workshops are about so much more than writing. She provides a uniquely cozy, safe space where you can enter into your thoughts and your heart to find those gems of insight that might turn to tears or light the way forward. Within that warmth, Jennifer weaves a community where she skillfully makes everyone feel seen and heard. The result is a magical respite from the week and world where you can connect to yourself and others.

- Susan Michalski, participant

To register, please email Jennifer at youngwritersaustin@gmail.com

THE MOURNING PAGES Almost every woman of my acquaintance has lately been in a state of overwhelm. Maybe it’s the time in which we’re living, the turmoil of the political situation, the uncertainty of climate change. Maybe we’re adrift because reentry, post-pandemic, has felt jarring. Maybe our work feels unfulfilling or purposeless. Maybe we're managing our children as we’re navigating the inevitability of our parents’ decline. Maybe we feel lonely and isolated and we’re yearning for the years when making friends seemed easier. Maybe our hormones are out of whack. Regardless, life seems to be moving so fast that we don’t always have the wherewithal to attend to anything more than what’s required, often from a place of logistics as opposed to emotion. What do we lose when we compartmentalize so we can meet the demands of the moment? Over and over? And what happens to our bodies when, in the interest of time, we consistently relegate our emotions to the backseat? When we wait for everything to settle down before we acknowledge the grief we need to address? What might we need to mourn? What might we need to feel joy? In this intimate workshop, we’ll meet for ninety minutes four different times, allowing ourselves the space to express our heartache, releasing onto the page what we’re holding in our body. After introductions and a grounding exercise, we’ll journal, taking breaks as needed. I’ll provide a prompt, something open-ended so you have the freedom to explore whatever comes up for you. When we’ve finished writing, we’ll take a breath and come together to share what we’ve discovered. What have we let go by giving ourselves permission to feel into our grief? In what ways does our body feel liberated, and what will we do with the space we’ve created? This is NOT a writing class. You do not need to be a “good" writer, and you don’t have to read what you’ve written. In fact, if you’re feeling particularly quiet, you don’t have to share at all. Though I envision this class as a catalyst for healing, it’s not a therapy session. You’ll be diving deep as you write, and we as a group will simply hold space as you share what you’ve learned and how you’d like to move forward with your new information. I anticipate a conversation that’s rich and cathartic, one that connects us and brings us peace - and gives us a way forward.

"Every session of Jennifer's Mourning Pages is one of exploration. The discoveries I have made through our writing have been surprising. In addition to having explored deep thoughts, I have drafted a short story and created a personal mantra to live by; moreover, I have reaffirmed my self-worth.” - Sara Tasch, participant

"I look forward to The Mourning Pages writing group every weekend! It's so nice (and rare!) to have the opportunity to meet face-to-face in a small group, share & connect, and also have the time to turn inward for self-reflection. I don't consider myself a writer but the prompts combined with the short visualizations have helped me get into a zone where I really love to write. It's a great time to tease out ideas & see what insights come forth. There's zero pressure, and I love getting curious to see where an idea may take me next... plus, it's so interesting to hear about everyone else's process, whether they decide to share or not. Jennifer creates a space that is lovely to be in with tea, cozy chairs, and a calming, fun presence. I enjoy it so much that I'm willing to drive across town to come (and that says a lot!). I highly recommend taking one of her classes if you're at all curious!" - Siri Scull, participant