East Student-Authors to Present Work at African American Writers Forum
Two student authors from East High School have been selected to read from their original works at the African American Writers Forum, an event sponsored and produced by Grinnell College. Senior Alexandria Martin and junior Angelica Alabado will be joining other authors in sharing their work at the event, which is a celebration of African American writers in Iowa.
Speakers will include Grinnell faculty members Kesho Scott, diversity trainer, public speaker, and author; George Barlow, poet and Iowa Humanities Board Member; and Lakesia Johnson, gender and women’s studies scholar and author; as well as guest speaker and internationally renowned poet/publisher/activist/rock/star/playwright/actor Jessica Care Moore and selected student-authors from Grinnell College and Des Moines area high schools. Alexandria and Angelic are the only DMPS students chosen to take part.
Their teacher, Frederick Hunter, isn’t surprised they are earning recognition for their talent.
“Both of these young ladies have something in common: desire. They love writing,” says Hunter. “It doesn’t surprise me that they have been chosen for this event. Their hard work and effort, along with desire, have brought them to this point.”
The evening, hosted by Grinnell College authors, will feature the voices of Iowa’s emerging generation as Grinnell reaches out to recognize our deep heritage and shared future with the greater Iowa community.
The African American Writers Forum is a part of the WOW! (Wonder of Words) Festival, co-produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and the Des Moines Public Library.
Alexandria, who enjoys video games when not writing, plans to attend Iowa State University next year to double major in computer and software engineering.
Angelica, on the other hand, says she has a “tendency to question logic and science. You can say writing is my addiction along with music.”
The forum will be held downtown at the Central Library; 1000 Grand Ave on Wednesday, October 24 at 5:30 P.M. Admission is free.
For more information, visit http://wonderofwordsfest.com/.
