I created Our Trust Fund in a time of mass uncertainty. As a self-proclaimed writer, I’ve always turned to writing to confront my issues so when Covid-19 made its first appearance in March 2020, you could say I had more to write about than usual. I needed a place to speak my thoughts truly, a space to confront my privilege during this time of unrest. It was also important to discuss other topics too. There were things I was enjoying like books I finally got to read, movies and shows my partner forced me to watch, and projects I had undertaken during this complete lifestyle change.
Turns out, I craved sharing my experiences—both good and bad—with others as I did at work with my friends, with my partner on dates, with meeting new people. The easy chatter of every topic ever, like two best friends talking. This is the foundation of Our Trust Fund, but it was still missing a key component. Don’t get me wrong, I started this to basically complain about everything and nothing, so clearly I don’t mind being the only one talking, but I saw the need for Our Trust Fund, for an unabashed and unapologetic online writing space where others can join and really, literally, have conversations. Everyone has a perspective worth sharing and we, as multi-faceted women with an incredible array of interests, have thousands of perspectives to share. We have had week-long discussions on Gilmore Girls, a tell-all of our thoughts, feelings, preferable boyfriends, and whether or not we’ll actually finish watching it. We also have had conversations on our mental health and what we’re struggling with right now. Everything we each experience is different and we all face things differently, both good and bad. At Our Trust Fund, we showcase the person behind the voice by providing them the space to say what they need to say.
Our Trust Fund is an online writing coalition focused on amplifying voices. We find long-form writing necessary, cathartic, and an important means of communication in the 21st century. Weekly, we have conversations and share our varying perspectives as we all see things differently. Through our writing, our storytelling, we can learn and share in each other’s magic.
Let’s make some magic together.
Shelby
Founder
