A Message from Our Founder
How many times have you heard students sharing about how difficult or boring the craft of writing is? As an English teacher, I heard these sentiments more than I wanted. I believed that my creative ideas coupled with my crazy personality (Do you wear a pencil tiara?) might help students develop a different mindset about writing. It's hard to believe that 15 years have passed since I determined not to sit on the sidelines about the future of our children when they should love to share their voice. After directing INKspire Creative Camps for 10 summers, we became a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit known as Why We Write. We now are excited to be with students during the summer and during the school year. Please click below and meet our wonderful Board of Directors.
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She has a dream...
Dr. Jacqueline Hamilton, Ed.D., is better known to students as Mizz JJ. Her mission focuses on helping students find happiness in listening and creating.
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After graduation from Miami of Ohio, Mizz JJ worked as a journalist in South Carolina and won several state press awards. She wrote a non-fiction short story "The Christmas Chair" that was published in the holiday literary anthology Kentucky's 12 Days of Christmas. Her doctorate research involved effective listening practices.
Her teaching experiences include: Creative Writing and Dramatic Expression for the Governor's Scholars Program; two Chautauqua characters for Kentucky Humanities Council; and 15 years in the English Department at Eastern Kentucky University.
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Contact her at jacqueline@whywrite.org or (859)935-5153.
Teachers share the dream...
The summer creative camp programs known as INKspire are held in Lexington and Winchester. Three teachers have been part of the program since the beginning—Jennifer Taylor (left), Mizz JJ (center), and Jenny Strickland (right).
Tech & design support shares the dream...
Bradley Chem works as a color scientist in Ohio, but once upon a time had Mizz JJ as a literature professor at Eastern Kentucky University. They have remained friends as e-penpals and Chem volunteered to build a website for the nonprofit. Chem received a Master’s in chemistry and a Bachelor’s in forensic science.
College interns share the dream...
Since 2022, INKspire Creative Camps also hire interns to work with students during camp. Our first intern batch were former campers for many years. From left, Meghan Wells, Amy Wright, and Tirzah Schanding Overbee display their paintings of Van Gogh’s “Still Life with Apples”—our canvas art project for Inkspire in 2022. In 2026, our interns include Sam Bratten and Andrew Taylor. Naomi Schanding (far right) is our full-time summer intern working in social media projects, publications, and art classes during camp. Naomi attends Asbury University majoring in art and creative writing.