This Covid 19 pandemic has been revelatory. Perhaps now more than ever, people appreciate one another and the value of community. As we all adapt to this tiny virus in big ways, Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is creating space for community and healing.
To foster expression of the written word and to encourage creative self-expression, Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is launching two contests: one, through our teachers, a Youth Writing Competition K-12, all-genre, teacher-curated drawing and; two, Indian River County Poetry Competition, juried by committee led by IRC Poet Laureate Sean Sexton.
The Youth Writing Competition, facilitated through teachers, will award three $25 gift cards to each elementary, middle and high school levels. Details will be provided to all school districts in our county as well as SES teachers. Students are encouraged to discuss with their teachers on how to enter submissions. More information is available on www.lrjf.org. Entries due June 1 and winners announced July 1, 2020.
The Indian River Poetry Competition will award one Grand Prize $500 with three runners up each $125 (must be 18 years or older) and due date for submissions is June 1. One submission per person allowed and poems are limited to 40 lines. Winner will be notified by July 1. Details and submission forms are available at www.lrjf.org.
It has long been the mission of LRJF to bring people together through writing and honoring the past and inspiring the future through the written word for all ages in our community. That mission is more relevant today than ever before. As people long for connection and start to realize how much of their daily experience is created through community, LRJF wants to provide space for exactly that.
Writing is an important way for people to communicate emotion. It allows for empathy, compassion and growth. At times like this when myriad forms of grief sit at the surface, grief for loss of stability, relationships, touch and so much more, writing connects people. Our goal at LRJF is to facilitate that connection. Whether through our Teen and Adult Writers Workshops, our Poetry and Barbeque, our gallery -salons, our special collaborations with the Community Church or whether it is sharing the past of our community by inviting people into Laura’s historic home, LRJF brings people together.
During this unprecedented time in our community’s history, we hope to encourage “expression of the written word” to document our county’s pandemic experience.
LRJF Writing Center at 1914 14th Avenue provides a gathering place for writers by offering teen and adult writers workshops, programs like Teens Listen, ongoing weekly writers groups and community wide events such as an annual Poetry BBQ and monthly “Celebrate a Local Author” during Friday Art Stroll.
Visit www.lauraridingjackson.org or call (772) 569-6718.
