Getting Ready to Hit "Send"...8th Edition of POW! Power of Words, an Anthology for Teacher and Student Writers Heading to Print

I went with AKA colors, to match the POW! I found. 

As I read the writing of students and teachers over the last few months, editing, revising, and polishing for our annual publication I couldn't help but be proud, but also a little sad. Last year, the first summer of Covid, families wanted their kids to have summer enrichment, but this summer, the data showed that parents of younger writers, and the community of immigrant and refugee youth we serve, weren't ready for another round of digital composing, so we will have a slimmer anthology of years past. We missed the little ones and the EAL kids.

Even so, we had 75+ participating, which given the state of affairs, is okay. We heard in stereo that families wanted in-person experiences, but we had to follow State and University policies and we weren't able to deliver as such. The online work was still amazing, and we did meet in person with the teacher institute, but we didn't have the large numbers we've experienced from 2014 to 2019. As I wrote in the prelude, it's evidence of the time and data for our shared history.  This was not easy for anyone. And, Dr. Jessica Early of Arizona and I have conversations ahead about how we brought NWP youth programming to our states, even when all seemed to be falling apart.

Special to this year, too, is the crew of College Essay writers - many of whom have attended CWP programs since their early elementary years. Their writing also shows that times for young people have been difficult and challenging, as a generation caught behind screens is not what they desire. In the words of Jessica Baldizon, "It's the human togetherness that has always made CWP literacy labs what they are. Such togetherness is more difficult when pushed online. It's there, but distant. Not the same."

Jessica, William, Chitunga and I went to dinner last night. They were our hiking buddies throughout Covid, but we haven't seen them much because of social distancing and the realities of the year. The company is always loved, thought-provoking and rich. And the food at Bistro Basque...too good for words.

Okay, Sunday. Grading, advising, editing, and writing are all on the to-do list. 3...2...1....Let's Go!