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May 7, 2013

Girls Write Now Awards

On May 7, 2013, the first-ever Girls Write Now Awards took place to celebrate the women who inspire our girls to share their original voices. Honoring Emma Cookson, Tamra Davis, and Tayari Jones, these women embody the values we strive to cultivate in our girls: dedication to hard work and craft; commitment to honest, fearless story-telling; and creative leadership in a world where the stories of girls are often devalued, demeaned, or just plain disappeared.

Honoring Emma Cookson, Tamra Davis, and Tayari Jones. With Co-Chairs Unyi Agba and Suzzy Roche, a Performance by Denitia Odigie, and Lyrics by Mentees Priscilla Guo and Najaya Royal.

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Honoree

Emma Cookson

Chairman of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH)

Watch Emma’s Speech

Honoree

Tamra Davis

Producer, Director, and Author

Watch Tamra’s Speech

Honoree

Tayari Jones

Novelist & Girls Write Now Board Alum

New York Times best-selling author Tayari Jones is the author of four novels, most recently An American Marriage. Published in 2018, An American Marriage is an Oprah’s Book Club Selection and also appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list as well as his year-end roundup. The novel was awarded the Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange Prize), Aspen Words Prize and an NAACP Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries.

About Tayari Watch Tayari’s Speech
Tayari Jones

Co-Chairs:

Unyi Agba

Girls Write Now Board member

Suzzy Roche

Girls Write Now member

Performer:

Denitia Odigie

Tinderbox singer/songwriter

Lyrics By:

Priscilla Guo
Priscilla Guo

Girls Write Now mentee

Najaya Royal

Girls Write Now mentee

In Their Words

If You Can Write, You Can Do Anything

“When I come across an organization like Girls Write Now, which inspires and fuels that potential talent, especially amongst young women, because we don’t have nearly enough young women writers in our industry, it’s hard not to admire what’s being done and also to feel the potential relevance for an industry like advertising.”
Emma Cookson Honoree
“It’s so important to support somebody’s honest voice who has a story to tell. It doesn’t matter where she comes from or who she is, but to let her know that her voice is important and we want to listen to it.”
Tamra Davis Honoree
“When you see our girls, when you see them in action, reading their stories, their poetry, interacting with their mentors, you know that you’re looking at the future. And it’s a future that’s bright.”
Tayari Jones
Tayari Jones Honoree

Relive More Memorable Moments

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