Valley Advocate Supports 8th Scholarship to Juniper Summer Writing Institute

The Valley Advocate and the Juniper Summer Writing Institute are happy to be collaborating again, after a pandemic pause, to support a local writer at Juniper this summer. The 2023 Valley Advocate Scholarship is open to area writers of all backgrounds and provides full tuition for the Juniper Summer Writing Institute June 11-17, 2023. Applications for the 2023 Valley Advocate Scholarship are open now and will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2023. Juniper is thrilled that our local media partnership with the Valley Advocate continues, making this the 8th year that the publication has supported a scholarship.

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The Juniper Institute, hosted by the MFA for Poets and Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is in its 19th year as a program that has brought literary artists and all-stars to Western Massachusetts, and inspired the writing of numerous novels, stories and poems. “We are grateful to continue to partner with the Valley Advocate to help bring a local poet or writer to the program.” says Betsy Wheeler, Director of the Juniper Summer Writing Institute and Juniper Institute for Young Writers. “What’s so excellent about an immersive learning space like Juniper is that writers not only delve into new depths of their craft, they also get to expand their writing community by building new friendships, working with dedicated mentors, and finding numerous opportunities for connection that will extend beyond the week they are here.”

Past recipients of the Valley Advocate Scholarship include Tracey Allison Bird, a Pioneer Valley resident and an emerging poet. In her application, Bird wrote, “Attending the Juniper Institute… would provide a valuable opportunity to connect with another cohort of creators and to work with talented teachers without ordinary responsibilities to distract me – indeed, this lack of distraction is perhaps the greatest blessing of all.”

Each summer, Juniper provides a community for almost 100 poets and writers. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction are the heart of the program along with engaging craft sessions and manuscript consultations. Evening readings are a highlight of the week and are open to the public when pandemic safety guidelines allow. Through the Valley Advocate and other partners, Juniper is able to offer financial assistance to one in three participants.

This year Mahogany L. Browne, CAConrad, Santee Frazier and Diana Khoi Nguyen will offer workshops in poetry. Jeff Parker, Tiphanie Yanique, and Leni Zumas will lead the fiction workshops. T Kira Māhealani Madden will teach a workshop in narrative nonfiction. Writers in residence include Chris Feliciano Arnold and Eileen Myles.

Applications and complete program information can be found at The Juniper Summer Writing Institute website: www.umass.edu/juniperinstitute