The Pollination Seed Grant made a huge difference to me on a personal level. When I received the grant I had just initiated a writing workshop, at Coler Specialty Hospital, for a group of residents who rarely attend the facility’s enrichment activities.

Most of the residents I was trying to reach spent most of their time alone in their rooms watching TV or outside the hospital getting high. For the first three months, I ran the workshop and sometimes had only one participant. It’s likely that I would’ve given up if I hadn’t received the support from the Pollination Project, which boosted my spirits and allowed me to bring in inspiring guests speakers.