Grant Funds New Creative Writing Program Designed to Reduce Veteran Isolation and Build Community
GROSSE POINTE FARMS, July 8, 2026 – Veterans across southeast Michigan will soon have a new outlet for healing, connection, and self-expression through a first-of-its-kind creative writing and wellness program launching at The War Memorial.
In May 2026, The War Memorial was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds Grosse Pointe Community Assets Program. Funds will be used for the Veteran Wellness Creative Class, a veteran creative writing and wellness program.
The program is designed to promote healing, resilience, and connection among veterans in southeastern Michigan. The free, six-week class for veterans begins in late September and runs through early November. It is the first of its kind in Michigan and represents a completely new model for serving veterans – combining guided creative writing, visual design, trauma-informed wellness support, and the publication of a dedicated literary journal created entirely by veterans.
“Many veterans experience social isolation, challenges with emotional health, and limited opportunities to process their lived experiences in supportive, community-based settings,” Maria Miller, War Memorial president & CEO, said. “While southeastern Michigan offers counseling and employment services for veterans, there remains a critical gap in creative, reflective, and community-building programs that use the arts as tools for healing and connection.”
The goal of the program is to address the gap by providing veterans with structured opportunities for storytelling, self-expression, and design – pathways proven to strengthen resilience, reduce isolation, and foster community understanding of the veteran experience.
The guided writing and design classes will be led by University Liggett School educators, Kelsey Ronan and Elizabeth Wagenschutz, both accomplished teachers and professional writers with deep community ties. They will work to engage veterans in memoir, poetry, fiction, and visual layout to develop both creative and technical skills. By the end of the program, veterans will publish a high-quality literary journal featuring their work, culminating in a public reading event to honor and share veterans’ creative contributions with the broader community.
To register for the class, visit warmemorial.org/events/veteranwellness.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, is a nonprofit cultural and community center dedicated to honoring veterans, enriching lives, and bringing people together through meaningful experiences. For more than 75 years, The War Memorial has welcomed thousands of guests annually for arts and cultural programming, patriotic observances, educational opportunities, community events, and private gatherings across its historic lakefront property.
As a dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan, The War Memorial remains committed to fostering community engagement through accessible programs that recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans and provide opportunities that spark connection, learning, creativity, and civic engagement. The organization proudly upholds this legacy of service while creating a sense of belonging for everyone from everywhere.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Patriotic Programming and Communications Administrator
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org