Freda Epum, my friend and former student, needs our help. As you may know, Freda is a brilliant writer and the author of Gloomy Girl Variety Show, a spiky, heartbreaking, and hilarious memoir published by Feminist Press in spring. Her book received a lot of positive attention, and last fall, she began a PhD in the renowned creative writing program at the University of Cincinnati.

Unfortunately, early this spring, illness interrupted both her PhD studies and the reading tour for her new book. Freda has a pituitary brain tumor, which, while benign, is causing terrible headaches. She also lives with kidney disease and fibromyalgia. has suffered from severe memory loss, and has developed new symptoms of POTS and neuropathy. She has spent the year primarily housebound.

Despite these challenges, she is under good care and is hopefully on the mend. But it will be a while before she is able to work, and she has run out of savings. She urgently needs help to cover her rent and utilities so she can keep stable housing and focus on getting well.

Freda is a go-getter and a supremely hard worker who conquered multiple obstacles to thrive in Miami's MFA program. She published widely, won multiple residencies and awards, and after graduating, became the lead designer of the Black American Tree Project. Freda needs a chance to recover and get back to being the creative, powerful person she is.

Any size donation will help her stay housed and give her the stability she needs to heal. Thank you for reading and for supporting Freda on her journey back to health and creativity.