Deadline Approaching for Young Writers Trust Competition

The Connecticut Young Writers Trust – a non-profit foundation that fosters written creativity - is reminding students, parents and teachers that the deadline for the 2012 competition is March 31.

Electronic submissions can be filed via http://www.ctyoungwriterstrust.org.

Alyssa Holmes of Rockville High School was a finalist last year.

The Trust has been active this year - hosting free workshops for young poets and writers and their teachers from around the state on March 10 at the Jumoke Academy in Hartford and at Rockville High School on March 13.

The workshops were sponsored by a development grant from First Niagara Bank.

The next event is scheduled for April 13, when Connecticut poet Marilyn Nelson and novelist Wally Lamb will perform at The Hartford Club at 7 p.m. in a fundraising event.

Since 1998, the Trust has affirmed the work of more than 7,000 young poets and writers, awarding more than $200,000 in prize money.

The current fundraising effort will determine how much prize money is awarded this year. The Trust will climax the current cycle with its annual celebration June 2 as part of Connecticut Young Poets Day at Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington. Connecticut Young Poets Day, a new feature of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, will take place during the festival’s 20th anniversary inaugural weekend.

The annual writing awards celebration at the Hill-Stead Museum is scheduled for June 2.

The event will feature the winners of Connecticut’s eight state writing competitions, a workshop and performance by 21-year-old award-winning slam poet and international hip hop star B. Yung, concerts by Chorus Angelicus and gospel legend Theresa Thomason, plus MetaFour with guitar virtuoso Jeff Howard and Andy Wrba of Barefoot Truth.

Lisa C. Taylor, award-winning poet and educator, will lead a dynamic workshop for teachers in grades eight through 12 called “Writing Against the Current.”

The event will conclude with a special featured performance by former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Wilbur.

Taylor’s workshop is also sponsored by First Niagara.

The trust has been kept alive for 15 years by donations.
 
For more information, contact Trust Chairman Ravi Shankar, 860-938-2139 or email - ravishankar2011@gmail.com