#826dc

You are invited to join award-winning authors and illustrators L. M. Elliott, Chris Eliopoulos, Debbie Levy, and Pamela M. Tuck on June 1!

In this free program, you'll meet the authors one-on-one and learn about the writing, illustration, and research that go into making a book.

Zachary Clark of 826DC will moderate the conversation and Q&A session that kicks off this day-long event.

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My to-do list for the rest of the year. (Not pictured – "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing" by Hank Green) #catcherintherye #jdsalinger #ianfleming #casinoroyale #goldfinger #vanityfair #williamthackeray #doandroidsdreamofelectricsheep #philipkdick #fullmetalalchemist #hiromuarakawa #themartian #andyweir #milesdavis #cloudatlas…

Monét Cooper (Capital City Public Charter School - Washington, DC) surprised us with an incredible care package this week -- five volumes of stories written by students around the topics of identity and migration. In the collection’s forward, Monét wrote:

“What lays at the root of everything I have chosen to do with my life is the power of people being able to advocate for themselves, speak their truths, tell their stories, comprehend another’s without judgment, only giving acceptance. My ultimate hope is that these connections forge the foundation of social change.”

The catalyst for this project was Monét’s 2014 Fund for Teachers fellowship researching and practicing the process of creating poetry chapbooks in locations reflective of students' histories (the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Georgia). She then spent ten days at the Bread Loaf Institute in Middlebury, VT, to workshop her research. Monét blogged throughout her fellowship, which you can access here.

“I believed that I would find stories and strategies to be a better educator and writer and, yes, I found those things,” said Monét. “But what I relished were the small discoveries: the new ways to listen, to write, to become more human and humane. I spent approximately two weeks in each location — El Salvador, the Dominican Republic — and three days in Waycross, Georgia, (the hometown of my paternal grandparents) asking questions, listening, writing, sitting in the local pupusería, walking the Malecón, spending time in the church of my godparents to document the migration stories of strangers and friends. What I found transcended anything I could have ever hoped to find or dream of becoming before I began this journey.”

Monét’s fellowship experiences facilitated tenth graders’ increased knowledge of anthropological research methodology, narrative poetry writing techniques and performance -- and, eventually, students’ published Migration Monologues. Ultimately, Monét believes that in writing and sharing these stories, she and her students built community in the classroom by joining their collective histories.

“I hope we challenged ourselves to constantly remember, a radical idea in a culture that compels us to forget or remember the past in inaccurate, and dangerous ways. For our students and the people they interviewed, these stories are the truths and now a shared one.”

In June, Monét’s students celebrated the book launch of Migration Monologues by reading their work in a community-wide event. We share a sample from each volume below, in which students define migration as a transition that is physical, spiritual, emotional, mental and transformative:

My Biggest Accomplishment Estefany Hernandez’ interview with her mother, Roxana

I Wanted Change Mauricio Apaez-Ramirez’ interview with his mother, Lorena

From my Umbilical Cord Malena Reynold’s interview with her mother, Maria Eliana

The Crossbred Life Jackie Nguyen’s interview with her mother, Cuộc Sống Lai

I Evolved So Much, DC is My Home Forever Erick Velasquez’ interview with family friend, Carlos Wilcox

Illustration for the story “El Día de Recogerme en el Aeropuerto” from the book “My Heart Went Beating Fast”, published by 826DC.

Illustration for the story “La Vaca de Yoselin” from the book “My Heart Went Beating Fast”, published by 826DC.

Illustration for the story “Life in NYC” from the book “My Heart Went Beating Fast”, published by 826DC.

Illustration for the story “Becoming a Chef” from the book “My Heart Went Beating Fast”, published by 826DC.