Join us for a free in person program at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House! On Saturday, September 6th at 12:00 p.m., the talented writers-in-residence from The Inner Loop will share new works inspired by their time at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

Light refreshments will be available and attendees will receive a discounted tour rate for Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House on the day of the event.

Readings will be held by the Inner Loop’s 2025 Writers-in-Residence:

Violeta Bermudez: in-residence July 6 - 12

Violeta Bermudez is a bilingual emerging writer and storyteller, originally from Nicaragua and based in Washington, D.C. She writes about memory, place, and the magic of ordinary moments. Mostly on Substack, always in her notes app. She’s also a partner at Violet Red Studio, where she leads content and creative growth strategies. Violeta is working on her first novel, a story that just won’t leave her alone.

Matti Ben-Lev: in-residence July 13 - 19

Matti is a queer nonfiction writer and poet currently based in Northern Virginia. His essays and poems have appeared (or are forthcoming) in Rumpus, CRAFT, Ekphrastic Review, Jake, Libre, Anti-Heroin Chic, and elsewhere. His unpublished chapbook manuscript was a semi-finalist in FLP’s 2025 open chapbook contest. He is the assistant nonfiction editor for the intersectional feminist lit mag, So To Speak, and an MFA candidate in CNF from George Mason University.

Emily Haynes: in-residence July 27 - Aug. 2

Emily Haynes is a writer and editor living in Washington, D.C. She has covered philanthropy and nonprofits for the last six years, reporting news and feature articles and producing live journalism and a flagship podcast for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Emily also writes about ecology, horticulture, and nature. Her work focuses on themes of place and attention; she loves spotlighting the overlooked wildness of the everyday and exploring the reciprocal ways people and landscapes shape each other.

Shannon Jeffries: in-residence Aug. 10-16

Shannon Jeffries (she/her) is a storyteller and community philanthropist from Cleveland, Ohio. In her writing, she explores the complexities and contradictions of life at the margins and intersections. Her essays have appeared in White Wall Review and midnight & indigo. She is also the author of Deep Condition, a novel released in 2018. Shannon is a graduate of The Ohio State University and University of Maryland College Park.

Lani Furbank: in-residence Aug. 17 - 23

Lani Furbank is a strategic communicator advocating for a just and sustainable food system. She is currently farming at Potomac Vegetable Farms and working as a researcher for Food Works Group. She is also pursuing her Masters of Professional Studies in Sustainable Food Systems at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Lani is a former food journalist whose writing focused on the intersection of food, farming, and the environment.

Questions? Call (703) 780-4000 or email woodlawn@savingplaces.org