Housed on the UW Tacoma campus, this extraordinary course includes poetry, photography, song or filmography, multimedia writing, oral history and documentary production.
Participants receive university credit which translates directly to points towards military promotion, assisting those who will continue their military careers while jumpstarting and inspiring those who will soon leave military service to pursue higher learning. Beyond material support of classrooms and equipment, this partnership signifies and strengthens the bond between transitioning Red Badge Project students and the community they call home.
Section One: Why We Write
Participants realize the value of their unique stories, not only to themselves, but to those around them. They find the means to express life through their unique lens and develop the tools to express their unique truth.
Section Two: How To Write
Designed to assist participants in feeling comfortable stepping outside of the norm and opening up to the possibilities of discovery through self-exploration. In addition to basic story structure participants are introduced to the concept of Invisible Ink. So called because it is not easily apparent, but lies beneath the words on a paper, and expresses the sincere reason why we tell stories.
Section Three: Write
Participants work to determine what makes characters work on the page and as surrogates of ourselves. Through a series of exercises formulated to hone observational and analytical skills, student storytellers find substantive thematic grounding in order to make their tales universally accessible, while remaining sincerely personal.
Quarterly, Monday mornings 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. UW, Tacoma, at no cost to participants, awards course graduates 2 units of academic credit.
Want to Participate?
All course participants are referred to The Red Badge Project from our Vet Center Partners and Task Force Phoenix at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Please contact your VA Center for assistance in attending any of The Red Badge Project courses. Select here to learn about other courses.