Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YpsiWrites Announces Angelica Esquivel as Inaugural Writer in Residence for 2025

YPSILANTI, MI (May 29, 2025) — YpsiWrites is proud to announce Angelica Esquivel as its first-ever Writer in Residence for the 2025–26 programming year. The announcement was made at A Great Day in Ypsi which also unveiled this year’s writing theme: "Telling Our Stories."

Esquivel’s 2025 programming will center around the theme "Writing Together.” As part of her residency, Esquivel will lead a series of writing workshops aimed at bringing together local voices to share their unique stories. Her culminating project will be a community anthology and an art exhibit featuring local artists. She will also receive a $1,000 stipend and funding for a personal creative project. 

Esquive holds a master’s degree in creative writing, teaches composition at Washtenaw Community College, and serves as an editor at Paraselene Magazine. Her creative work spans poetry, fiction, and visual art, including her poetry collection Crying My Best and a fragmented novel exploring Midwestern Latinidad, ancestral trauma, and spiritual syncretism.

The Writer in Residence program marks an exciting new chapter in YpsiWrites’ mission to welcome, empower, and support all writers in the community. YpsiWrites launched the program as a natural evolution of its Writers of Ypsilanti series.

 “Each year, we lift the voices of eight to twelve Writers of Ypsilanti,” said Dr. Ann Blakeslee, co-founder of YpsiWrites and director of EMU’s Office of Campus and Community Writing. “This new residency is a way of honoring one of these writers in a special way—providing them with the resources and opportunities to lead, inspire, and collaborate more deeply with the Ypsi community.”

Kristine Gatchel, Programs and Partnerships Director for YpsiWrites, emphasized the importance of this milestone. “We’ve wanted the opportunity to further uplift a writer in our community and spotlight the work they are doing,” said Gatchel. “We are so excited for Angelica to set the tone for future Writers in Residence.”

For more information on YpsiWrites and upcoming events or workshops, visit ypsiwrites.com.

 2025-2026 Writer in Residence

Angelica Esquivel is a Xicana writer and artist from Fostoria, Ohio. Her work has appeared in Barrelhouse, Poet Lore, Cream City Review, and Emerson Review. She received the 2021 Zocalo Poetry Prize and 2022 Roadrunner Review Cover Art Prize. She holds an MFA in fiction from Bowling Green State University. Angelica lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan with her husband and two dogs.

Angelica’s recent publications can be found here and here.

Read EMU Today’s article about the start of this new program.

 Writer in Residence

The YpsiWrites’ Writer Residence program will be an opportunity for a former Writer of Ypsilanti to showcase their writing in and to collaborate with YpsiWrites on its vision and programs. The Writer in Residence will work closely with the YpsiWrites leadership team to determine the theme for YpsiWrites’ upcoming calendar year of programming and to develop a program and/or workshop(s) that showcases that writer’s work and skills and that fits within the upcoming theme. In addition to these collaborative programming efforts, the Writer will also serve as a member of the Writer of Ypsilanti selection committee for the next year.

Please note: Applicants must be a previous Writer of Ypsilanti, from a cohort prior to 2024-2025.

FAQ

Who can apply?

Previous Writer of Ypsilanti, from a cohort prior to 2024-2025

What is the application timeline?

Please check back soon for our 2026-2027 Writer application timeline.

  • Applications open TBD

  • Applications close TBD

  • Interviews to be held TBD

  • Writer in Residence announced TBD

  • Writer in Residence term will be April 2026-March 2027

What does a writer in residence do?

A Writer can expect to spend an average of 3-4 hours per month, for a total of approximately 40 hours over the course of their term, collaborating with the YpsiWrites team.

The Writer in Residence will:

    • Meet with the YpsiWrites team to decide next year’s theme, present their idea for a program/workshop(s) and in with planned programs, and participate in YpsiWrites’ anniversary celebration (approximately 6 hours).

    • Collaborate with YpsiWrites on uplifting your own writing and work.

    • Create a program and/or workshop: 

      • An YpsiWrites program typically consists of a mix of written materials and live events. For example, with the Love Letters to Ypsilanti program, the YpsiWrites team created postcards for community members to respond to prompts and hosted write-ins for folks to come together and complete them.

        • Current Workshop Examples:

          • Engaging with Democracy Through Writing

          • Writing for Mental Wellness

          • Public Art and Writing Tour

      • An YpsiWrites workshop consists of a 75-minute live session, either in person or via Zoom, where participants come together to learn about a genre or technique, engage in writing activities, and share their work with each other.

        • Examples include:

          • Elevating Your Writing Craft (4 sessions, each one covering an aspect of writing craft)

          • Telling, Writing Your Own Stories, and Why It’s Important

          • Mindful Writing: Journaling and Self-Care (2 sessions)

In addition, depending on remaining hours and capacity, the Writer in Residence may contribute to YpsiWrites by serving as a member of the Writers of Ypsilanti selection committee, contributing to other YpsiWrites programming or events, and participating in other YpsiWrites-related activities as agreed upon by the Writer and the YpsiWrites leadership team.

What are the benefits of being a writer in residence?

Writer will be paid a stipend of $1,000.00. The stipend will be paid in two installments: $500.00 in October 2025 and $500.00 upon completion of their term as Writer in Residence.

  • Writer and their work will be featured on YpsiWrites’ website and social media during the course of their term. Writer will also have the opportunity to be featured in any media pieces on YpsiWrites during the course of their term.

  • Other benefits include:

    • Press release re: announcement of WiR recipient/awardee

    • Other news/media opportunities to uplift WiR’s existing/new writing work

    • Writer may have the opportunity to connect with other area writers and other area non-profit

Where do i apply?

Right here! Click this link to fill out the application form.