Hi there, I'm Sarah
Half Poet & Storyteller / Half Grant Writer & Editor
We strive for a decolonial and straightforward approach to grant writing, editing, and creative entrepreneurship. My goal is to be a trustworthy collaborator & advocate for humans telling untold stories.
My vision: When we express untold stories our health improves and we increase the chances of future generations ending the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
Who Am I?
I am an uninvited guest on Turtle Island. I was born Treaty No. 13 People with ancestors from Toronto and Newfoundland. My settler origins are from England, Ireland, and Scotland. As a survivor of childhood trauma and suicide loss, my healing journey began when I moved to Western Canada in 2012 after a difficult divorce.
Before my divorce, I was in the process of leaving the paralegal world. I had just finished my first semester of nursing as my marriage was falling apart. So, I made the difficult decision to return to the legal world. I have nine years of experience law clerking for senior personal injury litigation lawyers in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
I found Grant Writing while living in Gleichen, a rural community in Southern Alberta. I was the Grant Writer at the local municipality. About a year before the pandemic brought our lives to a halt, I went on leave due to burn-out. I'm grateful for my time in Gleichen reconnecting, healing and learning. Gleichen is where I graduated from the online Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University, where I began volunteering with Tribe Artist Society, and where I found Elaine Alec's Cultivating Safe Spaces framework.
After graduating from SFU, I studied Social Work at a community college in Calgary, where I found a weekend workshop that got me started on the entrepreneurial path. I started SJT Writing in the summer of 2021. I now live in Mohkinstsis, finishing a collection of poems and writing a memoir. Hire me as a speaker or facilitator!
Our Values & Approach
My approach is rooted in a combination of the decolonizing Cultivating Safe Spaces framework and my deep desire to understand self and promote self-determination.
Empowerment: Only you know what's best for you, your project, and your health. We assist with defining goals, but then the rest is up to you.
Understanding Self: Who am I? Who do I belong to? What is my purpose? What am I good at? What's my relationship to the land? SJT Writing is committed to the lifelong journey of understanding self.
Inclusion: As lifelong learners, we welcome the gift of correction. Everyone's perspective matters, and we listen with discipline.
Well-Being: Part of the process of any creative project and entrepreneurial journey is well-being. Caring for yourself, resting, and getting outside are part of the creative process.
Qualifications
- Successfully gained access to over $2.1 million in grant funds for Artists and arts organizations
- Raised over $300,000 in grant funds
- Grant Writing certifications from the University of Calgary and LearnGrantWriting.org
- Creative Writing certification from the Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University
- Student Affiliate of Editors Canada
- Cultivating Safe Spaces certification
- Law Clerk Diplomia
Let's Collaborate!
As an innovative perspective, I am a visionary and pride myself on thinking outside the box. I have a talent for seeing your vision and being a reflector of the beauty of your underappreciated gifts.
Start a free quote to begin your journey.