Roger Williams University Alumna Uses Creative Writing to Build Community Through Poetry Workshops

BRISTOL, R.I. – When Creative Writing alumna Hannah Little ’20 enrolled at Roger Williams University, she planned to build a career as an editor. Today, she is still helping people find their voices, but in a very different way. 

As the Activities Director at Saint Elizabeth Assisted Living in Providence, Little creates engaging programs for older adults while also leading Write to Grow, a community writing workshop series that encourages people of all experience levels to explore creativity, reflection, and connection through poetry.

Her path from Roger Williams University to community programming wasn't one she expected, but it reflects the hands-on learning, faculty mentorship, and community engagement that define an RWU education. 

"What first drew me to RWU was the Creative Writing major," Little said. "If Roger Williams hadn't had a specific major for creative writing, I probably never would have even looked at it."

Little, who is from Winooski, Vt., said RWU’s standalone Creative Writing program stood out because many colleges she considered offered creative writing only as a concentration within an English degree. But she knew she wanted to study writing and editing. After visiting campus and meeting faculty, she felt confident she had found the right fit.

"After I visited, I knew I was going to like the program and like the faculty, and I found that to be true," she said.

During her time at Roger Williams University, Little majored in Creative Writing and minored in Theatre and Arts Management. She studied abroad through the London Theatre Program, participated in Stage Company, served as Arts and Culture Chair for the Campus Entertainment Network (CEN), served and a Resident Assistant, completed a literary magazine internship, and worked with the Scholars at Risk program.

Those experiences introduced her to publishing, storytelling, and advocacy while connecting her with faculty mentors who continue to influence her career.

"Ted Delaney was my literary magazine internship advisor," Little said. "I learned so much about the industry from him. I learned so much about just creative writing."

She also credits Associate Professor of Creative Writing Adam Braver with helping her see how writing can create positive social impact.

"I learned so much from him about how we can use our skills and our voice to elevate people whose voices are being oppressed," she said. "I really was inspired to work with people."

That inspiration continued after graduation.

Like many members of the Class of 2020, Little entered the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. She completed two years of service with City Year Rhode Island through AmeriCorps, first serving virtually before becoming a team leader during her second year.

The experience strengthened her interest in people-centered work.

"I really liked being among people, coordinating programming and doing that sort of thing," she said. "So, it definitely influenced the types of jobs I was looking for after that."

After completing her City Year service, Little accepted an Activities Coordinator position at a nursing home, where she spent four years before becoming the Activities Director at Saint Elizabeth Assisted Living.

The role allows her to blend creativity, communication, organization, and relationship-building, skills she developed as a student at Roger Williams.

Her passion for creative writing, however, never disappeared.

In 2024, while participating in a meditation group, Little found inspiration in Barbara Ras' poem You Can't Have It All. After writing her own version, she wondered whether others might enjoy the same creative exercise.

She partnered with Paulette Miller to host a workshop at the Warwick Center for the Arts, where participants reflected on gratitude before writing original poems.

The response exceeded her expectations.

"I had an amazing time doing it, and I had a lot of positive feedback from the participants," Little said. "They said we would love to do more of this."

That first session became Write to Grow, a creative writing workshop program that now features approximately 15 different writing themes and continues to expand throughout Rhode Island.

While participants learn literary techniques such as metaphor and personification, Little says the focus is on personal reflection rather than technical writing instruction.

"Really, it's a chance for people to reflect on a topic and learn about themselves, learn about each other, and then find a way to explore that deeper through a piece of creative writing," she said.

One of her favorite moments comes at the end of each workshop.

"My favorite thing is when people come in and they say, 'Wow, I've never written a poem in my life,' and then they leave and they've written a poem. Now they can say that they're a poet," she said. 

Little's connection to Roger Williams also continues through faculty mentorship. When applying for a Rhode Island Humanities grant to expand Write to Grow, she reached out to Associate Professor of Creative Writing Renee Soto for guidance.

"She helped me write the grant,” Little said. “Her support through that was really amazing. I don't know if I would have gotten the grant without it."

Today, Little offers workshops at libraries, arts organizations, and community spaces throughout Rhode Island. While participants are encouraged to register in advance, she emphasizes that no previous writing experience is necessary.

"They're really designed for anyone," she said. "You don't have to be a writer to do it."

For Little, that's the lasting lesson she carried from Roger Williams University: writing is more than a profession, it is a way to build empathy, strengthen communities, and help people discover their own stories.

Little's next Write to Grow workshop will be held Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Warwick Center for the Arts in Warwick, R.I. Learn more about upcoming workshops at hannah-little.com.