In true 2020 spirit, our WriteOn readings went virtual this past fall! Every year the WriteOn readings are a space to celebrate the amazing young writers our fellows work with each week.
Over 60 people tuned in live on the evening of Wednesday, December 16 to hear the students of the High School of Economics & Finance share their work. Their teachers, WriteOn fellows Rob Madison and Tidenek Haileselassie, were the emcees of the hour. Together, they delivered their students self-written introductions, which explored student’s loves and annoyances. At the start of the semester, the students agreed on the kind of class they wanted to experience: one where people were free to express themselves, ask questions, and make “mistakes” without fear. This ethos shone throughout the entire reading. These young writers wrote and spoke boldly, unafraid to lay their emotions on the page, actively thinking through the issues of our time.
On Thursday, December 17th, the students of George Jackson Academy lit up the small screen with their readings, cheered on by friends and family, and led by WriteOn fellows Alex Vara and Cassie Archdeacon. Much like how class each week began, these young writers kicked off the night by playing pass the phrase; one student began by whispering “welcome to our reading,” with each student after that growing louder until the last student roared “WELCOME TO OUR READING.” In the spirit of the GJA class theme, “Weird Worlds, Weird Words,” the students shared stories that were chock full of imagination. Stories told from the perspective of computer mouses, mothers, dragons, and medieval knights. Stories that existed in worlds made of legos, or worlds overrun by pigeons.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! We hope to celebrate in-person as soon as it is safe to do so.