SPECTRA Under the Stars: Young Emerging Writers Showcase at Rozz-Tox -- July 22.
Thursday, July 22, 7 p.m.
Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
The literary gifts of more than a dozen area teens will be both celebrated and showcased in a special outdoor event on July 22, with the Rock Island venue Rozz-Tox hosting the Midwest Writing Center's latest edition of literary journal THE ATLAS, a night boasting performances of original work by 17 gifted and burgeoning talents.
THE ATLAS is composed of literary entries by participants in the Midwest Writing Center's Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Summer Internship Program, which is currently celebrating the 16th release of its magazine. The YEW Summer Internship Program is composed of students ages 15 to 19 who applied, and were interviewed, to take part in this selective paid internship program, and this summer, 17 teens from the Quad Cities and surrounding areas participated in the virtual program. YEW provides writing instruction in a variety of writing styles and processes, and develops professional skills in areas such as editing, collaborative project management, and magazine design.
Performing their original works at this year's release party are: Lola Brooke, Joe deBlois, Naomi Foseka, Kryssi Franks, Tayler Gilmore, Charly Heber-Spates, Keirstyn Johnson, Linda Lin, Janey Locander, Mishka Mohamed-Nour, Mia Orris, Wyeth Platt, Larissa Pothoven, Katherine Shewell, Elena Vallejo, Emma Wahlmann, and Morgan Webb. Back copies of THE ATLAS will also be available at the July 22 event, and funding support for the 2021 Young Emerging Writers Summer Internship Program has been generously provided by a special program grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Regional Development Authority, Modern Woodmen of America, the Quad City Community Foundation, and Rozz-Tox.
The July 22 SPECTRA Under the Stars event starts at 7 p.m. food and beverages are available from the Rozz-Tox walk up window, masks are required indoors to use the restroom, and it's recommended that guests bring blankets and lawn chairs. The readings are free, though donations are welcomed, and more information is available by contacting the Midwest Writing Center at (309)732-7330 or MWCQC.org.
