Community

Juniper's Community Agreements

The Juniper Institute operates in solidarity with the movements which continue to draw critical attention to the reality that Black lives have been devalued in this country by law enforcement, institutional racism, and the culture of white supremacy. Black Lives Matter. We join our staff, instructors, and larger community of writers in expressing frustration, exhaustion, and rage with these systems of oppression. All of us—Juniper staff, instructors, and participants—bring our varied identities to the Institute. We are a diverse group in terms of our personal, cultural, and social identities, as well as our experiences and background with creative writing. Juniper strives to provide the accountable and accessible digital spaces necessary for everyone to be able to participate fully in the week’s events. This means we are committed to supporting the following community guidelines:

Treat one another with dignity, respect, and fairness
Share, act, and communicate honestly, truthfully, and with integrity
Be responsible, transparent, and accountable for our actions
Expect to learn something new about yourself and others
Recognize your communication style
Challenge your thinking, engagement, and comfort
Explore your emotional reactions, perceptions, and assumptions
Take care of yourself and support others in caring for themselves

We ask that all members of the Juniper community follow these guidelines, and practice every opportunity to establish a more inclusive space. If you become concerned about a violation of community norms or you feel uncomfortable with a community member’s actions, please reach out to us using the contact information below. We are all invested in making sure that everyone feels respected and welcome in our programs at all times.

Juniper Photo Gallery »

Creative Writing Instructor with workshop participants in the classroom

I had expected that the workshop would work much like a regular writing class where the instructor is very separate from the students and I was surprised to find that this was not the case at all. Wherever I went I was treated as an equal, not just a "teen writer."

A "pod" of young writers strikes a funny pose at UMass Amherst Juniper Institute for Young Writers

It was incredibly refreshing to meet a whole host of young writers who I immediately clicked with. Juniper offered me a support system for the future to fall back on whenever I need an extra boost of confidence (whether it be in my personal life or with my writing). All in all, I learned a lot about myself as a writer and even more so about myself as a person.

A young writer reads in workshop while another participant looks on.

I loved how I was able to build such strong connections with my pod. There's something about knowing that we all love to write and how vulnerable we all are when sharing our work that makes it easier to care for and support each other.

Young writers at a book-making studio session

Since participating at Juniper, I've found it easier to change my writing and experiment with styles. I don't feel stuck in any certain writing style—now I find it easier to draw inspiration from everything around me, like what I read, what I experience, the people that I meet.

Over the course of the week I learned that things I thought made me a mediocre writer were actually just things that made me stand out. Just because I didn't write exactly like the person next to me didn't mean one of us was better or worse. At Juniper I didn't learn to write like the person next to me, but to think of new ways I could approach and improve upon my own writing.

Smiling audience of young writers in an auditorium applauding

I was able to sit with people that made me feel whole. Finding a community full of people like you and that share the same interests as you is something that can prove to be difficult. At home when I would tell people I like to write for fun, often times I was met with a dirty look or “How do you write just because?” and things like that made me feel out of place. At Juniper, it was the opposite. People asked me what I write, how I write, and everything you could ever want to know about a writer. I didn’t feel out of place at Juniper, not once.

Young woman with glasses and a ponytail sitting in tall grass writing in a notebook, with prayer flags flapping above her.

Words cannot truly express how grateful I am for the opportunity to have been able to attend and immerse myself in doing something I love. Thank you for letting me take root in your garden. Thank you for letting me bloom into something beautiful and a little strange. That’s what makes this garden so beautiful; that us writers are strange in our own wonderful ways.

A group photo of all 80 young writers participating in the Juniper Institute for Young Writers

I wish time travel was a thing because I want to relive my experience at Juniper over and over again. It was such a healthy environment, there was always somewhere to write and let your creativity flow with reckless abandon and I loved every moment of it.

A small group of five young writers make goofy faces in a sun-filled lobby.

During my time at Juniper, I met the most intelligent and talented people. My “pod” clicked in a way that I've never experienced--within our first few hours together, we were laughing like old friends. We fed off of each other’s unique energies and talents during our workshops and writing sessions, and remain in close contact! I've made new friends from all over the country, and feel that sharing our life and writing experiences with one another has enriched us all as writers and as people.

Young writers chat with a visiting writer in the Old Chapel

At Juniper I was challenged to allow myself to be uncomfortable, to experience my insecurities at their fullest and then find my strength through writing. Since Juniper is a community, I was never alone in being challenged and uncomfortable and it was because my fellow writers were also struggling that we were able to push and support each other.

Three young women writing in notebooks under a willow tree

My favorite memory will always be my pod walking back from a reading and then not being able to make it back to the dorms without plopping down and having a writing session.

The backs of a group of ten or so young writers walk away from us down a trail into the forest.

One of my best memories with my pod was on our last day with our instructor Otto when we were in the midst of an exciting writing prompt and it began to pour. It wasn’t a light drizzle, or even a regular day of rain, it was the kind of rain that comes when the earth has just been sucked dry and left parched. We were in awe of the rain’s amazing ability to crush everything in its path and yet heal it as well. It was the kind of rain my pod needed to experience in all its beauty and strength. We left our pencils and notebooks sprawled across the table, took off our shoes, and dived courageously into shaky waters. We transformed into dancers as we splashed one another, our heads thrown back with laughter, hands clasped together and our eyes closed so we could just feel. That was what Juniper gave us, the ability to dive in head first, crash a couple of times, pick each other up and then dance in the rain.

A visiting writer chats with a young writer after a reading

My passion for writing was reignited during my workshop, and I received clarity on how to move forward as a writer in the modern world, something I had previously felt very lost about. I was also feeling lost about college, and Juniper gave me clarity on that too. From being at UMass, I was able to specify some of the criteria I want in prospective colleges.

Two young writers share a heartwarming moment at a CWI reading.

Never had I been exposed to kids interested in the same things, leading such different lives in such different places than myself. We were able to engage in meaningful discussions with such different perspectives, ideas, and opinions, and appreciate the work of others.

I loved the readings. They’re like bedtime stories that you can’t fall asleep to but still dream about.

A young man stands at a microphone in the center, reading from a book, as a group of young writers walk around him in a wide circle.

It was outstanding to be in a community of writers. I find that my peers have made me want to write as much as possible, and to not have dull conversations, to really dig deep into myself and others.