Community

The Juniper Community

The Juniper Summer Writing Institute welcomes poets and writers across a range of experience, and we encourage all to apply, whether Juniper would be your first, fifth, or fiftieth literary conference or writing workshop!

In the past two years:

  • Ages of our participants have ranged from 21 to 77, and the average age was 34.
  • 42% of our participants let us know that Juniper was the first literary arts conference they’ve attended.
  • 47% of our participants reported that they were affiliated with a university.

Guidelines

In association with the MFA Program for Poets & Writers at UMass Amherst, Juniper offers writers an opportunity to immerse themselves in the writer’s life, to get inspired, and to become a part of a community of acclaimed and emerging writers from all walks of life.

All of us—Juniper staff, instructors, and participants—bring our varied identities to the Institute. We are a diverse group in terms of our personal, cultural, and social identities, as well as our experiences and background with creative writing. Juniper strives to provide the accountable and accessible digital spaces necessary for everyone to be able to participate fully in the week’s events. This means we are committed to supporting the following community guidelines:

  • Treat one another with dignity, respect, and fairness
  • Share, act, and communicate honestly, truthfully, and with integrity
  • Be responsible, transparent, and accountable for our actions
  • Expect to learn something new about yourself and others
  • Recognize your communication style
  • Challenge your thinking, engagement, and comfort
  • Explore your emotional reactions, perceptions, and assumptions
  • Take care of yourself and support others in caring for themselves.

We ask that all members of the Juniper community follow these guidelines, and practice every opportunity to establish a more inclusive space.

If you become concerned about a violation of community norms or you feel uncomfortable with a community member’s actions, please reach out to us using the contact information below. We are all invested in making sure that everyone feels respected and welcome at all times. You are what makes Juniper meaningful and memorable. We hope you’ll take every opportunity to write and to delight in wild invention.