The #1 Reason For Doing As We Do @Cwpfairfield. The Youth Board Behind the @StoryFestCT '19. It's Next Week, People!

Last night was the last and final meeting of the Saugatuck Story Fest '19 Youth Board, created by CWP Teacher-Leaders, Rebecca Marsick and Kim Herzog (Staples High School), with extra support from Shaun Mitchell (Central High School). Together, they recruited the kids behind the invites for who they wanted to hear: Nic Stone, Rose Brock, Tiffany Jackson, L.L. McKinney, Jerry Craft, Ibi Zoboi and so many more.

So, so many more. They will be there, September 26th-28th at The Westport Library.

I can't wait to host the panel of Rose Brock, Kelly Chandler-Olcott, Ronnie Sidney and Sonya Huber, our CWP-Educator panel.

In the meantime, they can't wait for the huge entourage coming next week to southern Connecticut.

R.L. Stine is the keynote. Hello, go Westport Public Library, go, go, go!

And last night, we put finishing touches on our writing, our social media game, our love for the writers we're bringing to the festival and the magic of of our schools, books,  and community - all of it behind the Saugatuck StoryFest '19.

Biting my nails. Nervous. Awaiting a return of friends and in absolute awe of the incredible team behind it all.

We are so much stronger together. #Ubuntu.

This makes sense to me, and I'm rejuvenated by the young people who keep us honest with the books they think should be promoted.

I'm standing with the teachers behind the books they know kids want to read, and the research (Kelly Chandler Olcott) that gives muscle to why it is so important to keep student writers at the forefront of what teachers like me do (the National Writing Project way).

Here's to everyone in and behind the Saugatuck StoryFest ' 19. Time to inhale as the next week is going to be epic.