Cover image by Featured Artist Madison Gasper

The 2020 Summer Edition of The Watershed Journal is a product of a particularly challenging time. Globally, the pandemic made choices that used to be simple fraught with complications, inconveniences, and, at times, heavy risk. 

In America, the death of George Floyd by the hand of a Minnesota police officer spurred tremendous social unrest and propelled the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. The subsequent protests and national discourse made millions of Americans begin the work to confront the ways in which we are individually and systematically complicit in discrimination that targets people who are African American. 

In this edition, you will hear from many writers in our region who had the shared experience of navigating these important issues—which are either directly, or indirectly reflected in their work. But their unique personal experiences will shape remarkably different ways in which they view the world. On these pages, their voices will not always harmonize with each other. But our mission of inclusivity means that we are willing to listen to, and share, every voice. 

At times, as editors, while we strive to include all eligible submissions, we have to make difficult decisions which are meant to protect the safe space in which we have worked to establish. Our intention is not to silence anyone. Instead, we reach out to find common ground on which to move forward. The 2020 Summer Edition is our proof that a dedication to inclusivity creates a richness in the work that might not otherwise be achieved. We believe that this edition is exceptional. 

Our featured writer, Debbie Allen, demonstrates a mastery of form, style, and content with her mesostic poem Found: What Matters. Our featured artist, Madison Gasper, showcases her original still life paintings. And our featured photographer, Brandi Stephens, wows us with a cover photo that captures the resilience and vulnerability we encounter in the natural world. We are also proud to share the word of writer, Dan Bogey, who recently won first place in the Rebecca M. Arthur’s Library’s Annual Poetry Contest.

Overall, we had eleven new submitters this quarter, represented seven counties in our region, and captured, arguably, a greater variety and diversity of work than we ever have before.

We believe that this literary richness is only possible through the compassion, patience, and openness that is required to pursue our mission. 

Thank you to all our submitters, supporters, and dear readers who have stayed with us through trying times.

Jess Weible & Sarah Rossey
thewatershedjournal@gmail.com