Okay, Crandall. Fingers Crossed This All Goes Well. Today's the Big Day for the Cultivated Women's Collective Conference, Inspired by @IbiZoboi and @GholdyM

This is the back story. Crandall was eavesdropping after a summer institute for teaching of writing and overheard two teachers discussing their after school writing clubs for girls. We just read Gholdy Muhammad's Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy and Crandall responded, "I wish there was a grant I could write to invest in your work."

Wola! He found one offered by the Cornelia T. Bailey New Era Writer's Program and quickly sent it off. As he was composing, he learned of Ibi Zoboi's upcoming poetic biography, Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, and knowing his colleague, Dr. Kris Sealy, loves Octavia Butler, he proposed sponsoring 8 after-school girls programs on writing across southern Connecticut. Each girl would get Star Child as a mentor text, plus another $86 for their own book purchases (phew! their selections are data in itself). The goal: to choose books to inspire their own writing. Boom!

Then he heard nothing. He waited and waited for over 6 months. In February, though, a check arrived to CWP-Fairfield int he full amount requested to support teachers and girl writers. 

Inhale. Exhale.

The last four months have been a whirlwind, as books were placed in the hands of over 96 girl writers and their teachers, snacks were provided weekly, and plans for Writing Our Lives and Finding Our Stars were put into place. This morning, over 100 girls and their chaperones are coming from schools across the state so they can attend workshops with phenomenal minds at Fairfield University (including Dr. Kris Sealey) and beyond. We have 10 workshops they can choose from, plus a visit from the author, Ibi Zoboi, herself.

Yesterday, I got all the rooms ready, and put together gift bags for the teachers and presenters (and even for the girls - they are also getting copies of the debut collection, Hope Wins, edited by Rose Brock). Crandall is biting his nails that all goes off smoothly, and is very conscious that he (and William King) will be the only males in attendance (William gets it, too...we invest in all students...that's how we roll). 

But I need to share that yesterday was an absolute downpour. I was drenched loading my car and getting all the spaces ready. I waited for lulls in the rain, and I after playing red light/green light with the showers, I eventually got everything where it needed to go. But I was soaked to the bone.

I can't wait to see how it all evolves today. These young women have been writing for publication all semester and are spending their last weeks tweaking their pieces to be published in Power of Words - The Cultivated Women's Collective. 

The teachers - they are just incredible educators and human beings.

Thankful to Ibi Zoboi (one of the best writer's composing right now) and Gholdy Muhammad (one of the greatest minds of literacy ever). The idea of the two of them (their work) in conversation together was magical...history matters. And who would have guessed CWP would receive the investment for the project? It's been magical. 

And now I'm off to campus to see it come to fruition. Wusah!