Meet the Edenwald Writer in Residence
“I make a lot of friends in the elevator,” Chris Stewart says. As the Edenwald Writer in Residence, she encounters residents at meals, events, in the hallways, and yes, in the elevators.
Chris, who serves as Executive Assistant to Goucher College president Kent Devereaux, became the Edenwald Writer in Residence in October 2024 and has been leading a variety of creative writing classes and workshops ever since.
As part of her residency, Chris actually lives at Edenwald, so her connection with the community is especially strong. “I really love being here,” she says. “The goal is for me to really get to know the community.” And, as demonstrated by the plethora and popularity of Chris’ classes, the community is getting to know her, as well.
“My poetry classes are very popular,” Chris says. “We have a tea and poetry event the first Friday of the month, and people enjoy that. And the memoir classes; those are pretty popular. Right now, I’m doing a Tuesday afternoon journaling class. And on the first Sunday of the month, I’m doing a memoir extension class with [Edenwald resident] Joan McMahon that includes a crafting element.”
Not surprisingly, Chris brings an extensive writing background to the position. For over three decades, she has worked as a writer, editor, administrator, communicator, and project manager. She runs courses at writers’ conferences, serves as editor in chief at a literary publishing house. She has also taught in community settings like the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Johns Hopkins Odyssey program. In fact, this isn’t even Chris’s first stint as a resident artist. She was the first Writer in Residence at Baltimore’s Creative Alliance during the early 2000’s where she interacted with a wide variety of both emerging and established artists.
About Edenwald’s In-residency Program
Chris’s creative writing residency is one of four currently taking place at Edenwald, according to Vice President of Resident Services and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Programming Lisha Galloway, the other three being sign language, artificial intelligence (AI), and a summer wellness series. “We may have a Digital Artist in Residence in the pipeline,” Lisha adds.
Lisha explains the overall goals of the in-residency program, especially incorporating Goucher College faculty and staff. “We’re striving to continue to explore ways in which we can strengthen our relationship with Goucher College, improve our residents’ quality of life through opportunities of lifelong learning, and foster community engagement while building meaningful relationships with staff and faculty members,” she says.
When asked how the program is valuable to Edenwald residents, Lisha says, “They benefit from having customized, on-campus programming tailored to their interests and learning goals. Additionally, the in-residency program offers those who have not yet participated in course auditing a valuable opportunity to experience the caliber of education Goucher College provides.”
Chris sees the in-residency program as yet another way to weave the institutions of Edenwald and Goucher College together. While Chris is not currently working with any Goucher College students, she does see her workshops as opportunities for intergenerational learning. “I would love to include students in the memoir class at some point as the interviewers with the residents,” she says.
Increased student involvement is something Lisha looks forward to, as well. “As we further integrate students into the Edenwald community, the benefits will become truly reciprocal, fostering the exchange of expertise, life experiences, and a shared commitment to lifelong learning across generations,” she says.
As for what she hopes to achieve with her residency, Chris is pretty straightforward. “My goal,” she says, “is to encourage creativity and self-expression.”
Taken Aback by Kindness
Chris is certainly enjoying her Edenwald residency. “I wasn’t sure what to expect at first,” she says, “but I’m constantly struck by how incredibly kind and friendly everyone is. There’s a very strong sense of community here, and people look out for each other and take care of each other, which is just mind-blowingly wonderful to see and experience.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Edenwald residency program, the INSPIRE expansion, and other ways Edenwald is partnering with Goucher College to become Maryland’s first college-enriched senior living community, call an Edenwald Residency Counselor at 410-339-6263.
Edenwald’s expansion project is subject to final approval by the Maryland Department of Aging.
