Rochester Writing Pop Ups Build Stronger Mental Health

Today we welcome guest blogger Renee Berg, Marketing & Development Director at NAMI and the writing pop-up founder and organizer to fill us in on how attending the writing pop-up Tuesday the 27th can help build stronger mental health.  I am so excited because I'm the moderator for the 27th! - James Rabe

Did you know writing can foster mental resiliency? No matter where you’re at on your mental health journey, this is true. As such, staff at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southeast Minnesota started hosting monthly community writing pop-ups to promote writing as a mental health wellness exercise. And they’ve found, it’s working.

Gathering around a table to discuss one’s love for writing has proven a popular endeavor. Each month, NAMI holds a writing pop-up at Forager Brewery’s The Pantry space. People come, grab a latte or a mocha or black coffee and join us for an hour of discussing one of their favorite topics: writing. A different professional writer, editor or media representative oversees each month’s event. Those who come are both NAMI SE MN fans and friends, as well as folks new to NAMI who simply love to write.

The groups meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. at Forager. Past popular moderators have included Jennifer Koski of Rochester Magazine fame, and Allison Roe of 507, Haven and Radish magazine fame. Coming up next on the writing pop-up moderator roster are James Rabe, popular Y-105FM host, who will moderate our March 27 writing pop-up. And then Jackie Horsman, owner of REVO Media, will moderate the April 24 writing pop-up. Stay tuned via NAMI SE MN’s Facebook page for news related to who will moderate NAMI’s May and June sessions.

I envisioned these writing pop-ups as a way to bring together the community. And so far we’re finding it’s really clicking – people love to talk about their writing pursuits and get tips and tricks from our moderators, who have a wealth of wisdom and knowledge on the subject.

For more information about NAMI’s monthly writing pop-ups, please contact Renee Berg of NAMI at 507-316-0987 or by email at rberg@namisemn.org. No RSVP is necessary, and there is no cost to attend.

NAMI SE MN serves people with mental illness and their loved ones in Rochester, Minn., and in surrounding communities with a myriad of valuable programs and services.