Ruth's project "Well You Can't Stay Here"
Donation protected
I am raising funds for Ruth Henderson, my dear friend of 30 years, so she can complete her manuscript. Since the day I met her I have been inspired by her spirit and deep sense of purpose.
It broke Ruth’s heart to lose her dear friend Dr. Thea Hunter, whose story in the Atlantic revealed the working conditions of gifted adjunct professors. Ruth and Thea both worked as humanities professors—adjuncts—for ten years, and Ruth’s memoir-in-progress describes her experience of our higher education system that routinely ignores the basic human needs of a staggering number of people it employs—and uses up.
“It’s immoral not to tell,” wrote Albert Camus, and Ruth continues to be led by her conscience to speak the truth of what she knows, now focusing on her own experience.
Her memoir, “Well You Can’t Stay Here: How One Human Being Resisted the American Poverty Chute and Got Free” is the triumphant story of a person who stays true to herself and in love with life despite the systems—economic—medical—legal—that threatened to push her down the American poverty chute into oblivion and death.
The great news is that there is a prominent journalist who is interested in Ruth’s story, and an article will significantly boost her chances of getting an agent and book contract.
But in order to finish this project, Ruth needs the basic tools of her profession: “a room of one’s own” as Virginia Woolf noted. Simply put: a simple, quiet space devoted to writing, where she will not be interrupted. Where she can concentrate exclusively on the work because her meals are provided.
Ruth just got awarded a fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, where she can write without interruption. Being at the VSC will allow her to focus exclusively on her writing and will provide a community that is able to give her critical feedback on her work to hone it for publication.
I am fundraising for Ruth because her scholarship does not cover the entire cost of going there and she has other expenses related to going. But on top of that, we just learned that Ruth has lost her lease and needs to move her things into storage.
With the reporter’s story on the way, Ruth is about to break out. Please help her move to the next level where her work speaks to and for so many others struggling against the same systemic realities. Things don’t have to be this way and won’t be when more of us take action. But it starts with getting our stories out.
Your contribution will cover the cost of the VSC residency as well as Ruth’s basic living and moving expenses. Please give what you can to support Ruth! We will be so grateful for your help!
As I am not on Facebook for verification, I am picturing myself with Ruth at a march in Washington.
Casey Kelly, writer and longtime friend of Ruth's, describes her work:
"I was privileged to serve as a writing mentor to Ruth Henderson and have watched her research forgiveness for her doctorate with passion and purpose—all the while teaching violent criminals, interviewing Holocaust survivors, organizing forgiveness groups in colleges and communities. Her work garnered the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard Law Dean Emeritus Martha Minow, and author Grace Paley.
Because of the immediate interest in her current work, Ruth has temporarily set aside her forgiveness book, which I believe can be life changing and even culture changing.
Over the 30 years I have known her, Ruth has shown unfailingly good character and, like many serious writers, a focus on helping others rather than on personal gain. She deserves this opportunity at the Vermont Studio Center.
Since her congenital physical disability has made supporting herself difficult, and savings impossible, I for one will donate to her important dream--and I hope compassionate others will help too. Thank you!"
Casey Kelly
Writer/Director
(WGA screenwriter, feature film director, AFI fellow, published fiction and non-fiction author, college level writing instructor)
Click here to hear Ruth interviewed on National Public Radio about her forgiveness work: https://www.wnpr.org/post/practice-forgiveness-shown-help-victims-heal
It broke Ruth’s heart to lose her dear friend Dr. Thea Hunter, whose story in the Atlantic revealed the working conditions of gifted adjunct professors. Ruth and Thea both worked as humanities professors—adjuncts—for ten years, and Ruth’s memoir-in-progress describes her experience of our higher education system that routinely ignores the basic human needs of a staggering number of people it employs—and uses up.
“It’s immoral not to tell,” wrote Albert Camus, and Ruth continues to be led by her conscience to speak the truth of what she knows, now focusing on her own experience.
Her memoir, “Well You Can’t Stay Here: How One Human Being Resisted the American Poverty Chute and Got Free” is the triumphant story of a person who stays true to herself and in love with life despite the systems—economic—medical—legal—that threatened to push her down the American poverty chute into oblivion and death.
The great news is that there is a prominent journalist who is interested in Ruth’s story, and an article will significantly boost her chances of getting an agent and book contract.
But in order to finish this project, Ruth needs the basic tools of her profession: “a room of one’s own” as Virginia Woolf noted. Simply put: a simple, quiet space devoted to writing, where she will not be interrupted. Where she can concentrate exclusively on the work because her meals are provided.
Ruth just got awarded a fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, where she can write without interruption. Being at the VSC will allow her to focus exclusively on her writing and will provide a community that is able to give her critical feedback on her work to hone it for publication.
I am fundraising for Ruth because her scholarship does not cover the entire cost of going there and she has other expenses related to going. But on top of that, we just learned that Ruth has lost her lease and needs to move her things into storage.
With the reporter’s story on the way, Ruth is about to break out. Please help her move to the next level where her work speaks to and for so many others struggling against the same systemic realities. Things don’t have to be this way and won’t be when more of us take action. But it starts with getting our stories out.
Your contribution will cover the cost of the VSC residency as well as Ruth’s basic living and moving expenses. Please give what you can to support Ruth! We will be so grateful for your help!
As I am not on Facebook for verification, I am picturing myself with Ruth at a march in Washington.
Casey Kelly, writer and longtime friend of Ruth's, describes her work:"I was privileged to serve as a writing mentor to Ruth Henderson and have watched her research forgiveness for her doctorate with passion and purpose—all the while teaching violent criminals, interviewing Holocaust survivors, organizing forgiveness groups in colleges and communities. Her work garnered the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard Law Dean Emeritus Martha Minow, and author Grace Paley.
Because of the immediate interest in her current work, Ruth has temporarily set aside her forgiveness book, which I believe can be life changing and even culture changing.
Over the 30 years I have known her, Ruth has shown unfailingly good character and, like many serious writers, a focus on helping others rather than on personal gain. She deserves this opportunity at the Vermont Studio Center.
Since her congenital physical disability has made supporting herself difficult, and savings impossible, I for one will donate to her important dream--and I hope compassionate others will help too. Thank you!"
Casey Kelly
Writer/Director
(WGA screenwriter, feature film director, AFI fellow, published fiction and non-fiction author, college level writing instructor)
Click here to hear Ruth interviewed on National Public Radio about her forgiveness work: https://www.wnpr.org/post/practice-forgiveness-shown-help-victims-heal
Organizer and beneficiary
Catherine Sen
Organizer
Silver Spring, MD
Ruth Henderson
Beneficiary