Member Linzi Garcia coordinated a five-week writing program with fifth-grade students as a board member of House of Morrow. Member Kevin Rabas was one of the classroom guests.
House of Morrow is excited to announce the inaugural launch of the Diverse Voices/Voces Diversas Literacy Program with the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary School!
Program Description:
House of Morrow is a local arts fund within the Emporia Community Foundation. It focuses on providing programs and services, primarily focused on the arts, to Emporia youth. House of Morrow Board Member Linzi Garcia, as well as specially invited local guest authors and artists, are currently leading a creative writing program designed to engage the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary in the art of creative writing using language in conventional and experimental ways, including with poetry, music, and visual art. This program emphasizes nurturing creativity, enhancing writing skills, fostering self-expression, and promoting personal and peer acceptance.
Each student has been gifted a notebook and custom pen, provided by local printer, Chester Press, to use during this program and beyond.
Classroom guests included Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas, artist Deon Morrow, and theatre teacher Kacie Hastings.
At the end of this five-week program, an anthology of the students’ creative works from this time will be published by local book publisher, Meadowlark Press. This means each student will be a published author! Chester Press will print the book and partner with a Wichita company to bind it.
House of Morrow and Walnut Elementary will also host a book launch and reading event to celebrate the students’ creation. The event is free and open to the public. More details to come. Copies of the book will be gifted to students. The books will also be available for purchase, serving as a fundraiser for Walnut Elementary School and House of Morrow.
Funding this program is made possible in part by the United Way United for Racial Equity Grant. The grant, as well as House of Morrow funds, cover the cost of notebooks, pens, guest speaker compensation, book printing, and event supplies. House of Morrow extends a hearty thank you to United Way and to everyone who has donated to House of Morrow.
House of Morrow Mission:
Our goal is to assist underserved communities in Emporia through the cultivation of public art and services. We aim to positively impact the community by creating innovative programs for the youth and providing them with tools to make a difference in their lives. We strive to empower those in need and foster a sense of community through public service and art projects. Working together will create a better future for Emporia and its residents.
Linzi Garcia Bio:
Linzi Garcia lives in Emporia, where she serves as the publicist and poetry editor for Meadowlark Press and as a board member for House of Morrow. While earning her MA in creative writing from Emporia State University, she worked as the graduate assistant to Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas and as an editorial assistant with Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review. During that time, she also worked as a composition professor at the university and a reporter for The Emporia Gazette. Linzi has facilitated over 50 community writing workshops and poetry readings across Kansas. She is the author of Thank You (Spartan Press, 2018) and co-author of Live a Great Story (Analog Submission Press, 2019) and While Away: Travel Poems (Spartan Press, 2022). Linzi is a recipient of a 2023 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.
Deon Morrow Bio:
Deon Morrow, a passionate advocate for education, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our literacy program. As an integral part of our school community, Deon is committed to creating an environment where students not only excel academically but also discover the joy of reading. With a background in educational leadership, Deon understands the importance of instilling a love for learning in our students. Deon is also a recipient of a 2024 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.
Program Description:
House of Morrow is a local arts fund within the Emporia Community Foundation. It focuses on providing programs and services, primarily focused on the arts, to Emporia youth. House of Morrow Board Member Linzi Garcia, as well as specially invited local guest authors and artists, are currently leading a creative writing program designed to engage the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary in the art of creative writing using language in conventional and experimental ways, including with poetry, music, and visual art. This program emphasizes nurturing creativity, enhancing writing skills, fostering self-expression, and promoting personal and peer acceptance.
Each student has been gifted a notebook and custom pen, provided by local printer, Chester Press, to use during this program and beyond.
Classroom guests included Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas, artist Deon Morrow, and theatre teacher Kacie Hastings.
At the end of this five-week program, an anthology of the students’ creative works from this time will be published by local book publisher, Meadowlark Press. This means each student will be a published author! Chester Press will print the book and partner with a Wichita company to bind it.
House of Morrow and Walnut Elementary will also host a book launch and reading event to celebrate the students’ creation. The event is free and open to the public. More details to come. Copies of the book will be gifted to students. The books will also be available for purchase, serving as a fundraiser for Walnut Elementary School and House of Morrow.
Funding this program is made possible in part by the United Way United for Racial Equity Grant. The grant, as well as House of Morrow funds, cover the cost of notebooks, pens, guest speaker compensation, book printing, and event supplies. House of Morrow extends a hearty thank you to United Way and to everyone who has donated to House of Morrow.
House of Morrow Mission:
Our goal is to assist underserved communities in Emporia through the cultivation of public art and services. We aim to positively impact the community by creating innovative programs for the youth and providing them with tools to make a difference in their lives. We strive to empower those in need and foster a sense of community through public service and art projects. Working together will create a better future for Emporia and its residents.
Linzi Garcia Bio:
Linzi Garcia lives in Emporia, where she serves as the publicist and poetry editor for Meadowlark Press and as a board member for House of Morrow. While earning her MA in creative writing from Emporia State University, she worked as the graduate assistant to Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas and as an editorial assistant with Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review. During that time, she also worked as a composition professor at the university and a reporter for The Emporia Gazette. Linzi has facilitated over 50 community writing workshops and poetry readings across Kansas. She is the author of Thank You (Spartan Press, 2018) and co-author of Live a Great Story (Analog Submission Press, 2019) and While Away: Travel Poems (Spartan Press, 2022). Linzi is a recipient of a 2023 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.
Deon Morrow Bio:
Deon Morrow, a passionate advocate for education, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our literacy program. As an integral part of our school community, Deon is committed to creating an environment where students not only excel academically but also discover the joy of reading. With a background in educational leadership, Deon understands the importance of instilling a love for learning in our students. Deon is also a recipient of a 2024 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.
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