Developing writers, amplifying voices, and transforming our community through storytelling.

In April-May 2021, sixty essential workers in Northeast Ohio participated in Literary Cleveland's free trauma-informed writing workshops designed to help them process their experiences, connect with fellow frontline workers, and craft their own stories in their own words. Now we have collected their stories and poems into an anthology that detailes the lived experience of the pandemic from the point of view of those who sacrificed to keep others safe. Stories include a nurse practitioner on the fear and uncertainty of the first COVID cases, a homecare nurse on the tragic loss of a patient, a grocery store worker on loneliness and heartache, a warehouse worker on going through divorce during a pandemic, a social worker on absorbing the suffering of others, and a military veteran on maintaining a positive attitude while providing homecare. As one doctor writes: “How did I cope with so much death and defeat? I don’t know if I ever did.” Read these powerful and movies stories now. Support essential workers as they supported us.