Happy Holidays

Greetings Prosers,

It’s almost here. The day many of us spend months preparing for, is almost upon us.

Some will say 2016 hasn’t been too kind to us this year. The world has been unsettled in almost every facet of its being. Whilst some of the events that have happened over the course of this year have proven the depravity and evil extents to which some people will go, l believe that these occurrences across the world have also proven the humanity, kindness, and purity some of the human race still encompasses.

The above couldn’t be more true about the community we have built here. We as a team of five, often reflect on the frickin’ amazing community we have on Prose. As a community, you have changed lives for the better, you have helped people in crisis feel like there is something to live for. You have written about the human condition and all of its pains and beauties. You’ve made the ugly hauntingly beautiful and you have made the beautiful more colourful than the colours known to the naked eye. You’ve brought pixels to life, and I think it’s safe to say, you’ve all made lasting impressions on each others’ lives, just like you have ours.

This last year has been an uphill struggle for many, and that includes Prose. Building a business from the ground up is not an easy feat, and we have worked tirelessly to make sure we continue to bring you a place of safety; a sanctuary for you all to express yourselves, free from judgment and welcomed with open arms. We have a long way to go still, but we are certain that we will get there with your support.

We’ve made so much progress as a team, as a community, and as a business in the last 365. There have been huge updates; ones that brought you the bookstore; along with huge achievements - our Letters from Prison initiative has recently been nominated for an award for excellence in rehabilitation.

Our Letters from Prison Program has touched many lives and there are hundreds of pieces to read in our Portal right now. Without the support of you, our community, this program wouldn’t be as successful.

It’s with this in mind that 2017 will bring a fresh wave of change, for the better, for us all. Paul and I (Sammie) will be spending our time setting up a non-profit for the philanthropic work we have begun in prisons. We will be scaling this into the youth offenders sector, and hopefully, the addiction sector too. This business will be separate to Prose, but will share a symbiotic relationship with Prose, and you, our Prosers. We’ve proven with prisoners that words are so powerful, they can change lives for the better, forever. We hope that you will continue to support us with this endeavour, and if any of you would like to help us further, please email me directly (sammie@theprose.com) because we know we’re going to need it.

Not only will we be working hard to change lives with words, but there will be some enhancements coming your way with Portals, and with that being said, if any of you would like to become moderators of our current Portals, please contact me using the same email address above.

Before I sign off for the year, there is one more change coming your way. It’s a brief change, but a needed one, to allow us some breathing room to implement the changes we have planned. From this day forward, there will be no more challenge of the week until further notice. Monday will bring the announcement of the winner for last week’s, but we will not be setting another for the time being.

The team will all be taking a much needed break for the next couple of days to enjoy time with our families and loved ones. Should any of you have any tech issues etc. you can still email us on the usual email address, or message us in app. We will be in touch as soon as we have emerged from the other side of Christmas.

Lastly, we want to thank every single one of you for being here. I, personally, have made life long friends here and know that this is the case for the team too. We truly have stumbled upon a kick-ass group of people, who I couldn’t be prouder to work with every day.

To each of you, thank you so much.

To my colleagues - my friends - you’re all badasses. It’s a privilege to work with you, laugh with you, and actually, disagree with you (sometimes).

From the entire Prose team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Until 2017, Prosers,

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. 

Prose.