 Hi, I'm delighted to be a part of this western as writing project 30 30 celebration but I'm sad I'm not there in person, my partner and I are away on a long plan vacation so I'm here to just participate virtually and miss all the person to person celebration. So I'll start thanks to my dear friend and colleague Charlie Moran I've been involved in the western as writing project since it began actually participating in the precursor with the five college partnership and then in the decision to move to join the national writing project. Since that time I've served on the executive board been a site director participated in and learn from many western as writing project programs. Along the way in my remarks I'm going to mention some of the people I've worked with and I apologize in advance for those I missed. I want to start with those who keep the western as writing project operating the graduate students who work as office managers, scheduling keeping books, ordering materials, all the fun stuff to all the unexpected things that keep it moving. The ones I've worked with most closely include Lisa Daniel story and Jessica will let. I've also worked and appreciate the hard work of Kate litter and Jackie Orgway who's making this virtual talk possible. They're very important people are the two professional development coordinators with whom I've worked. Susan Kyle Biggs and Janey Bear Layton, both through their professional expertise and commitment to the writing project have been central to it fulfilling its mission, and both were value valued advisors to me when I was a site director and they've contributed in many many ways. So as I reflect on my involvement over the years with the western as writing project what remains most memorable to me are the time spent with colleagues planning and participating in programs. But today I want to focus on two major events of the early 2000s project outreach and transition away from national writing project financial support. The project outreach was a similar experience for the western as writing project, challenging us to look deeply into who we were serving, who not, and what our mission should be. While many TCs were involved during the years of the project, the project outreach leadership group included Karen Samariano, Bonnie to Paul D moma do saw Susan Biggs share Willis Bruce Pennyman and Don Fountain. The western as writing project funded by the national writing project to assess access to and relevance of western as writing project programs to teachers and high poverty areas. The data received from surveys of teachers and other data show the way western as writing project was failing to serve teachers. Programming not relevant to teachers in these areas, and also barriers to participation time money distance. In short, the data challenged us to face the ways we were failing to serve teachers and low income areas, particularly urban areas, drove efforts to offer summer institute in Springfield a couple times to partner with the Springfield program and why and programs for youth and to offer an Intel preparation course for teachers. Those are just examples of initial programs and I know this effort is ongoing. More broadly project outreach show the need to revisit our mission statement, indeed to create one that would drive changes to western as writing project to better serve the project outreach goals. The western as writing project page looks so neat and succinct. I remember though that it rose out of collaborative challenging reflective process that called on us to develop together and understanding of our mission that we could continue to use to drive us and decision making to better serve all teachers and and turn their students in our region. This is a document that is meaningful only so long as it does adequately speak to the values and goals of the organization. And if it does, then drives planning and action. I know having mission statement was a valuable anchor when the national writing project lost federal funding, in turn, meaning local projects lost that funding. That was a significant hit for us with a mission statement to guide us though a core group saw that we made that transition successfully. They included people I've already mentioned, and also Wilma Ortiz Joanne was new ski Kevin Hodgson, Leslie scant Hudson, Alicia Lopez, others, all doing the hard work to write a successful grant to the western Massachusetts Community Foundation for transitional development. Also to further develop our professional development programs with local schools, and most importantly decide on what programs to prioritize given our mission. And now the western as writing project is at another transition point. While this move from a base at UMass Amherst to Westfield State University may seem daunting with many unknowns. It is not without guide posts and reasons to believe in its success. The western as writing project mission statement to guide that transition. And thanks to the hard work of Donna LaCour, Jen DeGrasia, the executive committee of core group of co directors and others. There's a path laid out for that transition. I suppose with just a few things that I've learned from my many years of involvement with the western as writing project. And I know remain true today, and are the reason I have faith in the future of the project. First and foremost, while I realize that institutional support is important. The central base is not what is central to the western as writing project. It is teachers, the many teachers across all grade levels who service co directors as leaders of specific programs members the executive board, and his participants in the many programs. Those teachers and the western as writing project as an organization thrive on collaboration, working hard together and taking joy in that work. And resilience grows out of that collaboration. This intertwined collaboration and resilience have seen western as writing project through previous challenges, and have seen and will continue to see the project through this current transition. And to bring the chains brings not only challenge, but also opportunity, the opportunity to revisit programs, the mission statement itself, and to envision new ventures as well. And continuing to guide the western writing project today, and into the future is the mission of creating on the mission statement, a professional community where teachers and other educators feel welcomed. They come together to deepen individual and collective experiences as writers, and our understanding of teaching and learning in order to challenge and transform practice. And central to our mission is the development of programs and opportunities that are accessible and relevant to teachers students and their families from diverse backgrounds, paying attention to issues of race, gender language class and culture. And how these are linked to teaching and learning. I'm sorry I can't be there in person I hope you have a wonderful celebration today and I look forward to future encounters as Mr. nice writing project moves forward. Thank you. Be done.