For many readers and writers, books become places where they can let themselves and their imaginations escape; at Bolles, the Read it Forward club aims to create a similar environment.
After interning for the local organization Women Writing For (a) Change, Olivia Owens ‘27, Ellsa Zinn ‘27, and Liza Rose Dickson ‘27 created the idea for the club.
“We came up with it there,” Owens said. “There’s not a strong book club at Bolles and we really wanted to do it because there are just so many girls and guys I know that would find it so fun to go read with a bunch of other friends and have fun snacks and get to put their community service to something they’re passionate about, like reading.”
Owens and Zinn are the current co-presidents of the club and are responsible for deciding when meetings will be held, what books will be read, and what community service activities are going to look like.
“It’s been kind of hard at the beginning to get that kind of organization, beginning the school year and beginning a new club,” said Owens. “So we’ll have more meetings in the future.” Read it Forward has held two meetings so far, but has been productive in planning for future events.
“In our last meeting everybody made a bunch of cards with writing prompts,” said Owens. “Stuff like ‘Write about the last time you laughed,’—just creative writing things.” On November 9, club members sat down for breakfast and used the prompts to write with Women Writing for (a) Change at the Jax by Jax Literary Arts Festival.
Ms. Jacobson, the club’s advisor, helped organize the opportunity. “She’s genuinely the best club advisor ever,” said Owens, “because she’s so passionate about what she does, and she helps us come up with creative ideas.”
It was Jacobson who introduced the current club leaders to Women Writing For (a) Change last year. “Women Writing For (a) Change is the coolest thing,” said Owens. “It’s a bunch of older women and teachers and artists and writers who come together and put together an anthology of work each year.” As interns, Owens, Zinn and Dickson met with the group every week to participate in a creative writing circle or attend local festivals and events.
“Our goals are just to spread a love for reading and find a way to give back to the community through writing and through reading, which is something that I think the three of us had a really fun time doing with the internship,” said Owens.
The club plans to hold a fundraiser and get club members involved in Women Writing For (a) Change and other Jax by Jax literary events. “We’ll definitely hold some sort of fundraiser to get more little free libraries around the community and give people money to decorate them. And we’re hoping to really start getting books involved and having monthly times to read, or just get people to come in and read.”
Owens sees the club as a support system at school that can offer reassurance through reading. “I just hope it’s something that gives people peace of mind, makes their day better,” said Owens. “There can be a lot in your day, and I feel like sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to just relax, so we hope the club is productive but also peaceful.”
