Niama Leslie JoAnn Williams

Niama will attend the Sable/Arvon residential course in Shropshire, UK, and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in Vermont to work on her memoir manuscripts and poetry. Her manuscripts focus on her experiences as a survivor and on her journey toward personal, emotional and psychological freedom, and cite the joy of creativity activity. She will use the information she gains to refine her motivational writing workshops for disadvantaged women and/or traumatized women. The workshops pass on the pleasure, healing, rewards and empowerment that come from writing about one’s own experiences and survival. Because women who have survived trauma, abuse or lack of opportunity are used to being silent, Niama believes these workshops that use group support, writing and drawing help women learn to find their voices and their strength.