MDC’s Miami Book Fair Offers New Virtual Speak Up Fellowship and Creative Writing Camp for Teens

Miami, June 7, 2021 – Got an aspiring young writer in the family? There’s still time to apply for Miami Book Fair’s (MBF) first Speak Up Fellowship for Teens, a four-week program July 19 – August 13 for Miami-Dade County youth grades 9-12. The deadline to apply is June 14. MBF, a component of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) cultural arts programming, will also offer Speak Up Summer Camp for Teens July 26-31. Both programs are free of charge.

Speak Up Fellows will be selected based on their writing portfolios and participate in one of three genres – fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They will meet with mentors from MBF’s pool of acclaimed teaching artists for individualized instruction and feedback; attend Speak Up workshops and summer camp; receive performance coaching and the chance to present their work at capstone Speak Up events.  There is no cost to apply. To register and for more information, visit https://www.miamibookfair.com/miami-book-fair-speak-up-fellowship/.

This summer, MBF is also offering a Speak Up! 2021 Virtual Creative Writing Summer Camp for Teens, a six-day immersive program July 26 – 31 designed and powered by the Fair’s team of writing and book experts. The camp is free, open to teens ages 13+ and does not require previous writing experience. Participants will engage in brainstorming activities, craft exercises, and workshops with established teaching poets and fiction writers. Daily sessions will be held 12:30-2:30 p.m. (EST) and each student will have a one-on-one 30-minute mentorship with an experienced teaching artist during the week. The deadline to apply is June 13. To register and for more information, visit https://www.miamibookfair.com/event/speak-up-2021-virtual-creative-writing-summer-camp-for-teens/.

For more information, please contact Ismery Pavon at Ipavon@mdc.edu.

Follow the Miami Book Fair on social media @miamibookfair.

About Miami Book Fair

Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year-round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States, generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. Throughout the rest of the year, Miami Book Fair responds hosts an ongoing schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival; creative writing and publishing workshops; author presentations; reading campaigns; and Read to Learn Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 150,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County.  Miami Book Fair programming is made possible through generous support from the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Miami Downtown Development Authority; and Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.

Miami Book Fair contact: Lisa Palley, Palley Promotes, 305-642-3132 lpalley@bellsouth.net.