Phyllis McLaughlin

Freelance writer Phyllis McLaughlin was born and raised in Berks County, and has been involved in community engagement and the arts for most of her adult life. Over the past 35 years she has served as Director of Educational Ministries at Christ Lutheran Church, Director of the Lutheran Pantry of Berks County, Director of the Glenside Women’s Empowerment Center, Executive Director of the Community School of Music at the Goggleworks, and Executive Director of the Assai Performance Institute in conjunction with Millersville University, She has utilized her experience to serve on several committees, including RiverPlace Development, the YMCA Beacon House Board of Directors, Board President of the Community School of Music, and Advisory Board for Penn State Berks Campus Theatre Dept. She has been a guest speaker for various groups and organizations, most recently for the Reading Berks Conference of Churches Prayer Breakfast. Phyllis currently maintains a studio, Urban Muse, at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading where she works as a writer for several publications, and is collaborating on a children’s book series, a novel trilogy, and environmental program development in partnership with her husband Mark McLaughlin, an Urban Forestry consultant.