BY: KIRSTEN POWLEY
We’ve all heard someone call letter-writing a lost art form and when you think about it, when was the last time you picked up a pen to write a personalized note to someone you know, apart from the occasional obligatory postcard? Arcade Fire said it right in their song, We Used to Wait: “I used to write / I used to write letters / I used to sign my name.”
Chicago-based calligrapher Emily Asher decided to bring letter-writing back in a huge way and jumpstarted into action when she, like many others, needed to find solace in the Presidential election result last year.
She created the ‘Dear Women Project,’ a passion project to uplift the strong, inspirational women in our lives by writing them a letter – a handwritten letter, that is – to let them know how we feel about them. “I felt the power of their accomplishments and their words lifting me up. It was a feeling I wanted to bottle up and send to all the women in my life,” says Emily on her website.
Armed with a pen, Asher designed beautiful cards with inspiring women and their quotes on them. With these, the project is simple: “write a letter of thanks or encouragement to ten strong women in your life, and challenge them to do the same.”
https://instagram.com/p/BOA9vouBgpv/?taken-by=emilyroseink
What’s more, 25 per cent of all profits are donated to various nonprofits supporting women’s causes which match each woman featured on the card. For example, when you purchase Hillary Clinton-themed cards, a portion of the money will go towards She Should Run, a nonprofit that promotes and encourages women in government. Likewise with the Emily Dickinson box set, proceeds will be donated to Girls Write Now, a New York City creative writing and mentoring organization for at-risk high school girls.
Creative, empowering, thoughtful and giving back, this is the kind of project that spreads positive thinking and encourages women to support one another, especially over a time when so many were hoping for the first female President of the USA.
Cards can be purchased on Emily Asher’s website here.
