Open House: Conversations with Writers About Community

The book is intended to offer a practical guide to building community, fostering collaboration, and inspiring generosity through the creative arts. This collection of original essays features an accomplished roster of contributors with backgrounds in such diverse fields as literary translation, magazine editing, publishing, higher education, and curriculum design. By featuring successful writers who represent such a wide range of skillsets and career paths, this book is meant to help students envision themselves as leaders in the university and well beyond its boundaries. In a cultural moment where graduates often seek meaningful careers outside of academia, this essay collection also offers as an introduction to alt-ac career paths and the unique opportunities for effecting social change in these roles. Focusing on techniques that have broad applications for high school teachers, nonprofit leaders, community outreach organizations, and college classrooms, each chapter includes an original essay from a contemporary writer, editor, or nonprofit leader in the arts. Each chapter culminates in a set of original exercises for individuals and groups, which focus on empathy, citizenship, and community stewardship.  It’s an honor to present this volume within the context of Tupelo Press & Tupelo Quarterly’s legacy of fostering generosity and understanding through the literary arts.  Enjoy!