Community Connection / Writeaway
by Terri Barnes
Much of the hard work of writing is solitary. Writing workshops give wordsmiths an opportunity to gather in a community of writers to hone their craft through guided instruction, peer feedback, and spending time simply writing. Depending on the workshop format, writers prepare by setting goals, submitting finished work or work in progress, and distancing themselves from normal daily distractions so they can fully engage in this vulnerable, rewarding experience. […]
Community Connection
by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito
Mary Taris, founder of Strive Publishing, has a dream to publish children’s books and young adult novels that inspire African-American youth to follow their dreams. “Students need books that are contemporary and relatable—books about families that look like them, doing things they do, or things they dream of doing,” she says. “The name Strive Publishing represents the continuous effort and resiliency it takes to turn dreams into reality.” And as her community of supporters grows, Mary is determined to do just that. […]
Community Connection
by Terri Barnes
When NYC teacher Alvin Irby saw one of his first grade students wait impatiently for his haircut at the local barbershop, it gave him an idea: Put children’s books in barbershops, specifically those serving black communities. Recipient of the 2017 Innovations in Reading Prize, Barbershop Books provides a growing number of barbershops across the United States a selection of children’s books aimed especially at boys ages four to eight, leveraging the power of male influences to help young boys become readers. […]
