Challenge Into Change uplifts stories of resilience, reflection, and healing. Since 2008, women and members of the gender-expansive community have shared stories of overcoming life’s challenges to inspire hope, connection, and courage in others. Every story shared is an opportunity to help someone feel less alone.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Paramount for the 2026 Community Celebration. We’re especially grateful to this year’s writers for sharing their stories of hope and healing, and to everyone who helped make the evening possible.

This year’s Challenge Into Change book, featuring writing from our 2026 authors, is still available with a suggested minimum donation of $20.

Get a copy of the book
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Stories of Hope and Healing

We invite women and members of the gender-expansive community to submit short selections of prose or poetry inspired by experiences of resilience, growth, and healing.

Stories may reflect experiences such as grief, illness, migration, domestic violence, poverty, or racial trauma as part of the journey toward greater well-being, connection, and wholeness. Writers of all experience levels — including first-time writers — are encouraged to participate. Your story and experiences matter.

Looking for inspiration? Explore our writing prompts to help you begin.

Writing for Healing is offered regularly through our Arts & Connection Resilience Programs, creating space for reflection and self-expression through storytelling and writing.

Challenge Into Change culminates each year with a community celebration honoring participants, their stories, and the people who support them along the way.

We are deeply grateful to the authors, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and event speakers whose courage and generosity help make this program possible.

Participant Stories

  • “And this courageous expression, along with the resulting connection, has a compounding effect. Each time we put our experience into words — on the page, in conversation, in community — we inspire others to do the same. Light, once spoken, travels faster than darkness.”

    - Erin James, Writing for Healing facilitator

  • “We can only move forward because the seasons are going to change, and we have to decide what to do in them.”

    - Charlsie Stratton, Finding the Lesson Even When There Isn’t a Reason

  • “But then a new spring came. Her ever-changing wind brushed my hair. She gifted me some seeds. What will grow? Nadie sabe hasta que lo planta. Each bud was a beginning.”

    - Mariana Araujo, Growing Wildflowers

  • “I suppose for me, the mess is where the stories live, out and about, a bit topsy turvy, rather than stashed away in closets or under tightly tucked bedding in an effort to portray something far more manicured and sterile to the outside world.”

    - Lisa Rough, This Is Not Normal

  • “And I keep weaving. Constructing a new self from what was left behind.”

    - Raven Robinson, It Didn’t Destroy Me

  • “Each time I doubted myself, I remembered what I once told clients: growth comes through discomfort. If I wanted to live out my calling, I had to step into the unknown.”

    - Nicole Hawker, The Courage to Change: My Journey From Mental Health Professional to Gym Owner/Coach

Watch the 2026 celebration.

The event took place on November 4, 2026, at The Paramount Theater in Charlottesville and featured a selection of pieces read by various authors from the 2026 Challenge Into Change book.

Thank you to our corporate sponsors! We are so grateful for their generosity.

Their support helps ensure that all donations received during this event go directly towards our individual counseling and support group services.

2026 Sponsors

With Special Thanks to