Editor’s Letter

This past winter, I was given a chance to hear a lecture on P.T.S.D. in the field of journalism. I gladly accepted the opportunity to step away from the chaos of my desk for an hour and inadvertently wandered into an engaging learning opportunity. By the end of the lecture I found myself sitting down one-on-one with the speaker, Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and having a lively discussion on the subject he was so passionate about. At the end of our conversation we both rose, shook hands, and I walked back to my work space, grateful to have traded insights with another.

This same week I attended one of Loose Change’s first poetry workshops, led by our poetry editor, Molly Dickinson. I was similarly struck by the fervor in the conversation, and also the joyfulness present as we all sat around discussing the work of Eric Pankey. It felt refreshing to have these exchanges; intentionally learning in a way that is difficult to achieve when prefaced with credit hours, professional development seminars, and rapid cycle deadlines. In many ways, we hope that Loose Change will be a place that fosters this sort of artistic growth. Whether through our workshops, our feedback letters to submitters, or the content that we offer, we aspire to be a home for the writer who works hard to mold his or her craft into its best and truest expression.

Though some of us on staff have been working on the magazine for almost a year now, this inaugural issue marks the true beginning of Loose Change. There have been countless individuals who have given us unconditional support and encouragement as we have gained our footing and put this publication together from scratch. Moving forward, it is our main objective to repay that support in kind to our writers, visual artists, and surrounding communities. We begin this adventure by handing over this first volume of collected voices. May they give as much to you as they have given to us.

Sincerely,

Cristina M. Martin
Editor in Chief
Loose Change Magazine