Creative writing circles at George Perry Floyd Square offer community healing

Every other Tuesday, just steps away from George Perry Floyd Square at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, a group of people gathers around tables with notebooks and pens. Some arrive unsure of what they will write, but by the end of the evening, many leave with lighter thoughts.

The creative writing workshop, hosted by the Agape Movement, was created three years ago as a space for community members to come together, heal, and unpack their emotions.

“Right now, there’s so much fear and anxiety in the world,” said David O’Fallon, a community member who has attended the writing circles since their first meeting. “There are so many forces that are tearing people apart.”

Unlike many public spaces, O’Fallon said, the writing circle feels rare because no one is trying to sell something or persuade participants toward a particular viewpoint. “Nobody’s trying to convince anybody of anything,” he said. “What we share establishes something genuine. It’s real.”

The writing circle is facilitated by Marquise Bowie, who does street outreach with the Agape Movement and ensures the sessions run consistently. Bowie said he does not receive payment for facilitating the gatherings but instead views the space as an act of service and collective care.

“For me, writing is therapeutic,” Bowie said. “A lot of us are walking around holding onto things we shouldn’t be holding onto.”

Bowie said writing became a way for him to process trauma, even as someone who once considered himself a “hardcore type guy.” If writing helped him work through what he carried, he believes it could do the same for others.

The location itself carries deep meaning. Bowie pointed to the lasting impact of George Floyd’s murder and the energy that still surrounds the intersection. While memorials and remembrances remain important, he said he wanted to create something focused on building people.

“I don’t really see a lot of people building for the community,” Bowie said. “This is one way we can come together and build with each other.”

For many participants, the openness of the group is what makes the space feel safe. John Barlee III said he keeps coming back because of the relief that comes from being seen without judgment.

“We all walk around with that constant anxiety,” Barlee said. “Someone’s going to perceive me. Someone’s going to see me. But here, you’re meant to be seen.”

He described sharing in the circle as a physical experience, not just an emotional one. “I can feel in my body and psyche a sense of relief,” Barlee said. “You get to share something that comes straight from your heart, with zero judgment.”

In a society where criticism often outweighs kindness, Barlee said spaces like the writing circle are rare. “Everyone’s a critic nowadays,” he said. “So coming to a place with no critics, only collaborators and friends, really means a lot.”

O’Fallon echoed how often people arrive believing they have nothing to say. “People come in saying, ‘I don’t write. I don’t have anything to say,’” he said. “Then they write something that surprises them with its honesty.”

He also emphasized the importance of physically writing by hand, saying something shifts when people slow down enough to put pen to paper.

The circle has become a space where young adults, in particular, are finding alternatives to anxiety. Barlee, an older member of Gen Z, said many people his age recognize that the way society has operated for years isn’t working.

“We know it’s bad for us,” he said. “That realization is happening more and more.” 

While there may not be a perfect solution, Barlee believes growth happens through showing up together. “When you find something that feels comfortable, all you can do is show up as yourself,” he said. “There’s no vibe to ruin.”

In a city still grieving and facing uncertainty, the Agape Movement’s writing circle serves as a reminder that healing takes time, and that it doesn’t have to happen alone. Sometimes it looks like a table, a notebook and a pen, shared in community.

For more information, visit www.theagapemovement.com.

Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student