The Joyful Spaces of Journaling Classes
BY Calli ferguson in conversation with emily CHertow
After a long, busy Monday last month, I took whatever motivation I had in me and made my way out of my apartment cocoon and over to McCarren Parkhouse. There, on the patio picnic tables, were lacey, crafty center-placemats under little floral arrangements, and taper candles, with scattered crayons and hand-written conversation starters on paper cut into heart-shapes. By the window, was a “craft buffet” where a feast of supplies eyed me for evening activities. I sat in an empty spot surrounded by friendly strangers, and within minutes it became just as comfy (plus, a little more fulfilling) than another night in. It was a craft night hosted and curated by Emily Chertow of Journaling Classes.
In the wildly stimulating landscape of New York City, Emily Chertow creates these inviting, peaceful pockets for playful connection to self and others with “Journaling Classes”. With her profound passion for mental health and personal connection to the practice of journaling, Journaling Classes have evolved past spaces for writing; they are colorful sanctuaries of self-care, play, and joy. Here, we’re invited to show up authentically for a present evening of whatever’s on the table, creating this beautiful blend of fun and vulnerability.
Ahead of Journaling Class’s very exciting upcoming Talent Show hosted in collaboration with Rivian in Williamsburg, Emily answered some questions for warmly about her journey, intentions, and a bit of info on what to expect on Friday…
Q: What inspired you to start Journaling Classes, and what do you hope participants take away from your workshops?
A: It’s hard to keep this simple because this Q holds a lot of meaning to me - but, let me try – I wanted to create spaces that I’d also actually want to show up in. I wanted to hold room for people to show up simply as they are without the pressure of feeling they have to mask anything or be something they aren't. A space where we get to discover new parts of ourselves.. Journaling Classes are built off of my passion for advocating for mental health, the value of human connection, and the power of pen to paper.
My hope is that when people arrive at my workshops they are able to catch their breath and unwind - ideally creating a container for those to be able to connect deeper with themselves and as a result, then be able to connect with others.
When you leave journaling classes I want people feeling proud they just showed up to do something unique all in the act of self-care in a community setting. Ideally people find answers through my prompts, but also clarity and inspiration.
Could you share a bit about your journey with journaling and how it has impacted your life personally?
Yes, journaling has been a practice that frankly has saved my life. It’s been a practice and tool I turned to over the last 10+ years that not only has documented all of my seasons of life, but helped me process and understand them. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my rituals of journaling - it has shown me more about myself than anything I could imagine, it has empowered me to be myself, and it has helped me not just document lived experiences, but help me make big life decisions.
What was your very first Journaling Class like?
It was August 2018 in Washington Square Park. A week prior I had printed flyers and hand-wrote my email and phone number 200x on little tabs for people to rip off – I then spread them all through the West Village in hopes that my invitation would be enough for people to simply show up.
We were on the West Side of the park. One of my close friends surprised me from Boston. 4 of the attendees were strangers, and the rest were friends who showed up to support me with an open mind and heart.
After the first workshop, I knew I was onto something special. And I knew that it was something I couldn’t put down. I had this calling that I needed to continue to share what I was so passionate about with as many people as I could.
Could you share a moment from one of your workshops over the years that felt particularly powerful or stuck with you?
What makes my workshops so special is the people that show up in them. While I do feel confident in how I curate and create safe spaces and really believe I have some magic sauce in my workshops – I also deeply believe that the magic of what my workshops are is because of the people in them.
I have a lot of beautiful stories and invisible strings we have seen through the power of these workshops but something recently that has stuck out is I had a regular tell me that I saved her daughter's life. She shared that because of the workshops she was doing with me when she was pregnant, she found the support and courage to stick around and show up for not just her but her future babies.
Sometimes I think of journaling as well as “mindfulness” and “self care” as things to do on my own. What is the impact of bringing community to those practices?
Typically journaling is an act that is down in the privacy of our own space in a setting that is alone - which is great. But I deeply believe that when we come together, we heal together. And when we write together, we heal together.
Connection is a necessity to our well-being and livelihood. And I believe that we are all deserving of it. Journaling Classes makes genuine, organic room for that. I also believe that vulnerability = connection. And when we hold room for vulnerability in journaling classes it very naturally creates beautiful connections and an enriching community.
My workshops do not just have to be a place where we connect in our journals but it’s a place where we invite in PLAY, JOY, AND CONNECTION. And when those things are present you are bound to meet someone new, and connect on a deeper level to them.
How did Journaling Classes evolve into what it is today: including flower pop-ups, craft nights, morning mindfulness, talent shows, etc?
I feel so grateful that my business now has so many different branches to it. When I find something I love or am passionate about, I want to share it with as many people as I can.
I also feel grateful that growing up my parents instilled fearlessness in me. If I have an idea, I’m often going to rip it and not sit on it for too long. I will never know if I don’t try. So, the unique offers I have stem from my desire to create something more - to tap into different parts of myself and my community.
Also, I think routine and consistency are really helpful and key – my Wednesday Mindful Morning sessions have been consistent over the last 2.5 years. I think I’ve only missed or canceled 6-8 of them in that span of time. It has grown with time and that is all due to routine. People know where to find me and when - they know what I have to offer and I feel grateful that people want to be part of it.
I have mentioned play and joy a few times now. Everything I do often is rooted in those two things, I want to always create an experience that leaves room for them, and it’s been fun tapping into different parts of myself to host unique experiences like my talent show and craft nights.
The upcoming Talent Show event sounds so exciting! Can you tell us a bit about what to expect?
This gathering is an invitation to lean into your spontaneity and talents, step out of your comfort zone, and make room for joy. Everyone's a winner at this Talent Show. We are partnering with Rivian to bring this to life along with other great brands like Recess, Away, and small businesses. You can expect a sit-down live experience but also a chance to mix and mingle with new loving people, be part of sick giveaways, take a ride in a Rivian and more!
Picture it more as a space to come together, to Stay Open, and embrace all the different parts of who you are and what your peers are interested in.
What made you want to host a talent show?
I wanted to create a place where we could get together on a weekend night and do something that was unique, out of our comfort zone, weird, and welcoming to our inner child.
I love to host. It’s my love language. And I am being intentional with hosting things that do not limit us to feeling like we have to spend money, or consume substances (there will be non-alch and alch sponsored beverages and food catering)
My peers are so cool, we have many hidden talents and interests! I want to showcase it all!!! People are going to be doing comedy and music. Others are doing impressions and a live cooking show. Me? Yeah, I am seeing how many clementines I can eat in three minutes. It can be deep and serious. But it can also be light and kindhearted.
I think it’s important for communities to have truly open hearted spaces like the Talent Show to celebrate each other's talents, interests, and joy!! What are you hoping people get from the experience?
Joy. Ease. Bliss. I hope we all laugh, cry, and cheer together. I want to play with my friends. All I care about is creating good things with good people and that's what this evening is about. I hope we show up ready for a fun night and walk away feeling like we are floating and gliding into our weekend.
Anything else you want people to know about Journaling Classes or what’s coming up?
We got room for you here. Show up with curiosity and an open mind and you will find exactly what you need. Journaling Classes is now my full-time job so I am creating a lot more workshops, activations, and experiences for the needs of the community.
I like to think I know what works, and I love finding out what doesn’t. I am experimenting with new partnerships and opportunities and feel really excited about what is to come.
Where can people follow along/stay tuned/plug into the Journaling Classes community?
You can subscribe to my colorful/cozy non-spammy newsletter, here.
Follow my @journalingclasses IG where i share upcoming events, random thoughts, other community happenings, and things related to my perspective and lens of journaling
Say hi to me on my personal IG, @echertow where I share playfulness, joy, color and other misc things that feel good to me!
P.S. snag your tix to The Talent Show here
and use code WARMLYZINE for 5$ off your ticket
