Conga. Culture. Creativity.
Over 350 students explore writing through hands-on event
From an African Conga Trio and dancing, to meeting accomplished Minnesota authors – hundreds of aspiring authors and artists under the age of 13 now have an exciting new chapter written in their books.
More than 350 students from 11 area schools and districts attended the 2019 Young Authors Conference, held Nov. 13-14 at Central Lakes College – Staples Campus. This was the second year Sourcewell coordinated and hosted the event. Based on experience from last year, this year was expanded to a two-day experience: the first day designed for students in grades 4-6, and the second for those in 6-8.
Katie Embree, student academic coordinator at Sourcewell, said popular demand from last year's event drove the decision to divide the grade levels. And, in doing so, Embree said presenters were better able to focus on each audience and inspire them at their level.
Among the list of award-winning featured presenters was keynote Abby Cooper, a three-time author who discovered her love for writing nearly 20 years ago at a similar young authors conference held in Minneapolis.
Participating schools and districts included Brainerd, Discovery Woods, Henning, Northland, Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager, Royalton, Staples-Motley, Upsala, and Wadena-Deer Creek.
A complete photo gallery from the two-day event can be found on Sourcewell's Facebook page.
Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 325 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.