Girls Write Now!

Just got home from the Girls Write Now reading and friendraiser, celebrating ten years of GWN, a program that pairs at-risk high school girls with professional writing mentors, to great success (including a 100 percent college acceptance rate). The reading at Bluestockings Books featured GWN mentors and mentees (including an old feminist running buddy of mine, Zaedryn Meade) reading their collaborations -- so fun and inspiring! -- then we moved over to the Slipper Room for the friendraiser.

Here's me and fellow reader Tayari Jones, author of the novels The Untelling and Leaving Atlanta -- the excerpt she read from The Untelling, about a young woman who grows close to one of the disadvantaged girls she works with at a literacy program, made me come home and order it off Amazon right away.

And here's an action shot of rockin' band Royal Pink, featuring Emily Rems from BUST magazine on drums -- they're awesome! All the ladies in the house got up and danced; there was even one of those impromptu dance...corridor...things, where everyone takes a turn doing their thing down a runway flanked by clapping, cheering people. Even I got off my ancient ass and rocked out, as is evidenced by this next, extremely embarrassing photo:

Yeah, that's me, far right, waving my arms in the air as though I just don't care, when I do care, I do. Good thing Bill didn't take the shot while I was doing my Molly Ringwald dance during the Royal Pinks' cover of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Waaaaay spastic.

And finally, me with my dear old friend Jen Bekman, who I met on my very first day of high school and have cherished ever since. Yeah, I know -- same t-shirt I was wearing in the last set of photos. What can I say. I like the shirt.

Seriously, though, it was a great night, and I now have a new favorite volunteer organization. I hope you'll be inspired to donate, volunteer, or just learn more about Girls Write Now. Here's looking forward to ten more years of success!

Comments

[Anne]

I am so happy to have heard you read last night! It was awesome. Thanks!

[Bill Scurry]

Come for the youth empowerment, stay for the spastic jittering.