U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has called it “an inspiring story of perseverance.” A Kentucky school district superintendent has called it “the most current and authentic portrayal nationally of the teen voice from - and interpretation of – growing up in challenging conditions.” 168,000 people all over the world have watched this video about this extraordinary project. At the KASA Leadership Institute and Expo, you’ll have a chance to meet the people behind it.
In their book Our Shawnee, eight young authors from The Academy @ Shawnee describe their lives in several low-income neighborhoods in Louisville. They tackle diverse topics such as experiences in the juvenile justice system, learning to fly an airplane, the stresses of unstable housing, the lasting impacts of small acts of kindness and support, the challenges of life after severe head trauma, and the untimely deaths of loved ones. Alongside their accounts are stories of friends and family members whom they have interviewed. The vibrancy of their voices and the substance of their stories are testaments to their resilience, courage, and writing talent—and to the richness of lives in often-overlooked parts of Louisville. The book has been ordered by readers in 40 states, six Canadian provinces, and three continents, and has been used by educators with students at all levels, from elementary school to graduate school.
During the conference, we invite you to meet some of the people behind the year-long project: the project director, the school administrator who embraced the idea, and some of the remarkable young authors. Get inspired and develop ideas of your own at the “Moment of Inspiration” on Wednesday evening, attend the Education Session to learn more about the project and lessons learned from it, and visit the Louisville Story Program’s booth in the exhibit hall.
The Louisville Story Program partners with historically underrepresented Louisville residents to help them write and publish books about their lives and neighborhoods. To learn more, visit them at www.louisvillestoryprogram.org, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
More praise for Our Shawnee:
“We live in intellectually, artistically, emotionally, racially gated communities. The authors of Our Shawnee open the gate. They give us a big pot of courage that goes a long way to feed a lot of folks who are really hungry to know that we are not as far apart as the world and the news reports say we are.” –Nikky Finney, Winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry
“In this era dominated by social media and so-called ‘reality’ TV, by contrived and politicized images of the lives of real people, Our Shawnee reminds us just how crucial and necessary truth and authenticity are. Told with courage, in their own real voices, these eight young writers remind us that life, with all of its challenges we are born into, is a beautiful struggle.” –Aaron Zimmerman, Executive Director, New York Writers Coalition
“Our Shawnee is an inspiration!” –Mary Gwen Wheeler, Executive Director, 55,000 Degrees and member of the Kentucky Board of Education