As a writer and filmmaker, storytelling has always been my creative home. But that year, I stepped into a new role (teaching artist) and conceived a course called Silver Screen Filmmakers Club. I didn’t just want to teach filmmaking techniques. I wanted to create a space where older adults could claim their stories, shape them, and see themselves reflected on screen.

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on a year packed with storytelling, teaching, filmmaking, and a whole lot of words (both written and spoken). It’s been a year of long-awaited premieres, new adventures, and projects that continue to grow and connect with communities across Indiana and beyond.

Over the past year and a half, I had the incredible honor of designing and facilitating workshops as part of the Silver Screen Filmmakers Club. Through five cohorts and 25 weeks of classes across multiple locations, I had the joy of guiding participants, aged 65 and up, through the process of creating short documentary films.