This post was written by programs intern Devan Tierney
Girls Write Now’s favorite time of the year has come around again, and boy, did we start it off with an exceptional evening! This year, the first CHAPTERS reading was held on the first day of spring, but unlike the weather (which left us with 3 inches of snow) CHAPTERS did not disappoint. Fourteen of our favorite mentees, accompanied by award winning author Tiphanie Yanique, captivated the audience with honest poems and stories that left everyone in awe from their work.
This was my first CHAPTERS experience as an intern for GWN, and let me tell you — it sure was an experience. A couple of the mentees refreshed the audience with some much-needed comedic relief, however my night was truly affected by those 15 to 18-year old girls who reached deep inside themselves to speak of emotions that can take an average person decades to evoke. Their heart wrenching topics ranged from a young girl empathizing with a homeless veteran who lost his life and his family after he lost faith in his country and his career, to a high school student who spoke of horrifying demons that live inside of her clearly-too-mature soul, to a girl who has been forced to feel as though she is “less of a human” because of the gender she is attracted to. I left the evening with a sense of inspiration and awe. If you were able to hold in your tears throughout the night, I truly commend you!
Head over to our Facebook page to re-live the event by photo and stay tuned for some incredible videos!
If you missed the first opportunity to watch the amazing Girls Write Now mentees perform their pieces, don’t worry! You still have three more chances to join us for some more CHAPTERS readings at the beautiful Scholastic Auditorium with the very special guest authors:
- Friday, April 24, 6-8 PM: Emily St. John Mandel
- Friday, May 29, 6-8 PM: Roxane Gay
- Friday, June 19, 6-8 PM: Quiara Alegria Hudes*
*Location Change: Rose Auditorium at the Cooper Union 41 Cooper Sq.