“THE ATLAS 17” Release Party at Rpzz-Tox -- August 18.
Thursday, August 18, 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 August 18, with the Rock Island venue Rozz-Tox hosting a release party for the Midwest Writing Center's 17th edition of literary journal THE ATLAS, an evening boasting performances of original work by 14 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 17th 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, 14 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.
Among those giving brief readings of their original works at this year's release party are: Zach Blair; Lola Nakashima Brooke; Alyjah Carter; Joe deBlois; Phoebe Fuller; Metro Hamm; Charly Heber-Spates; Ayden Kelley; Janey Locander; Mishka Mohamed Nour; Thi Nguyen; Wheth Platt; Audrey Williams; and Ethan Windt. Copes of THE ATLAS 17 will be available for $10, and the event will also be streamed to Midwest Writing Center’s YouTube and Facebook Live pages. Funding support for the 2021 Young Emerging Writers Summer Internship Program has been generously provided by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Scott County Regional Authority, the Regional Development Authority, Modern Woodmen of America, Illinois Humanities, the CD Wiman Memorial Trust, the Melvin McKay Charitable Trust, the Moline Foundation, the Rock Island Public Library, and Rozz-Tox.
The Midwest Writing Center would also like to extend gratitude, respect, and love to: the Midwest Writing Center Board of Directors, Committees, Staff, and Volunteers; the Rock Island Public Library; the David R. Collins Writers’ Conference 2022 Faculty: Jennifer Colville, Gina Franco, Ross Gay, LaTanya McQueen, Jesus “Chuy” Renteria; Timothy Curry, founder of the YEW Program; Sarah Elgatian and Erica Eastland, Assistant Program Directors; Sam Bruner, Melissa Conway, Ava Miller, Hailey Schmacht, and Katherine Shewell, Workshop Leaders; and all the friends and family of the 2022 Young Emerging Writers for their care, dedication, and support to make this YEW program, and magazine, possible.
The August 18 release party for THE ATLAS 17 starts at 7 p.m., Rozz-Tox refreshments are available for purchase, masks are required to use the facilities, and it's recommended that guests bring blankets and lawn chairs for the outdoor event (weather permitting). The readings are free, though a suggested $5 donation is greatly appreciated, and more information is available by contacting the Midwest Writing Center at (309)732-7330 and MWCQC.org.
