WRITING OUR LIVES - DIGITAL UBUNTU: We, Too, Are Connecticut @FairfieldU @prettywellness @innovates_ed @mattdelapena @robertgalinsky

This Friday, May 22nd, students from Darien, Joel Barlow, Global Studies Magnet, Central, Staples, and Bassick High Schools will congregate at Fairfield University for the Writing Our Lives - Digital Ubuntu conference. This year, students are presenting to students their digital writing to state, "We, Too, Are Connecticut."

Building off of CWP-Fairfield's collaboration with the CT Mirror, Special Report: Education, Change, and Diversity in Fairfield County, teachers partnered with CWP-Fairfield to apply for the LRNG Innovation Challenge Award funded by the John Legend Show Me Campaign, the National Writing Project, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. In December, we learned the grant was awarded, one of just 12 awardees nationwide.

Shaun Mitchell, Paula Fortuna, Kate Bedard, Megan Zabilansky, Jen von Wahlde, and Kim Herzog - motivated and passionate teachers - have promoted student voice  all year long in their classrooms by advocating for the stories they have to share.

In addition to the incredible projects from these six schools, students were given copies of We Were Here, a young adult novel written by Matt de la Peña. They were asked to think about who they are to the State of Connecticut and what they want Connecticut to be for them. In addition, Tedx Teen personality Robert Galinsky will offer expert advice on public speaking at the conference (and see the culmination of his investment with two schools earlier this year). 

The week has been an ironing board for CWP-Fairfield as we pressed hard to be sure buses were ready, food was cooked, supplies arrived, and six schools were ready to celebrate their hard work. A special shout out goes to Fairfield University Athletics, too, and their donated Stag Swag. 

CWP-Fairfield is very excited to welcome the high school composers, their teachers, and and our special guests to the Dolan School of Business. Writing Our Lives: Digital Ubuntu kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and presentations will be made all day long. Additionally, the sun rises Friday morning with motivational speaker, Caryn Sullivan, the creator of Pretty Wellness - an all-around magical human being.

 Here's to who we are together!