Haitian Youth Authors Tour New England, May 19 - June 28

The Mystic Learning Center and Somerville Arts Council announce the "Books of Hope" Mystic Ink Tour #2. Hear young Haitian authors read their work across New England from May 19 – June 28, 2011. The Somerville Library (79 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA) will launch the series with a Book Release Party on Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m. Another local highlight is “Art Is Life Itself,” a 7 p.m. session at the Haley House Bakery Cafe (12 Dade Street, Roxbury, MA on Thursday, May 26. For more information contact L. Soul Brown, Director, Books of Hope at 617-640-0252 or griothouse@aol.com. You can also read after the break for a tour schedule and specifics regarding program content.

On May 19th, youth living in Somerville’s Mystic Housing Development and other low-income neighborhoods will launch a month-long, regional book tour, the Mystic Ink Tour. The DIY tour will take urban teens out of their economically-challenged communities to some of the leading spoken word venues and bookstores in the region to deliver readings of poetry and prose and sign copies of newly released books that they’ve written. The writers, who are mostly 1st generation Haitian immigrants, range in age from 12-25. Since last September, they have been spending afternoons and late nights learning from acclaimed and community-based writers, alike, to produce poetry and fiction as part of the Books of Hope program. 

Their stories and poems come from real life experiences and their imaginations. They’re concerned about relationships, loss, struggle, and how to survive and win. Having worked closely with editors to refine their voices and designers to conceptualize their book covers, they are now armed with newly published books to bring to New England communities; some that have yet to hear the power of these young people’s words.

The tour opens with a Book Release Party on May 19th at Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville MA. BOH youth authors will read from their work, sell and sign copies of their books, and be available for interviews. Book sales directly benefit each author. Also, during the event, there will be a special presentation of books created by youth in Ghana through the Cross Cultural Collaborative.

Mystic Ink Tour schedule:

Thursday, May 19: Book Release Party 6 p.m. @ Somerville Library, Somerville, MA

Thursday, May 26: “Art Is Life Itself” 7 p.m. @ Haley House Bakery Cafe, Roxbury, MA

Tuesday, June 14: “Zion Hill Poetry Night” 6:30 p.m. @ Stone Church, Newmarket, NH

Thursday, June 16: “Free Verse” 6:30 p.m. @ Brew'd Awakening, Lowell, MA

Friday, June 17: Performing 7 p.m. @ More Than Words Books, Waltham, MA

Tuesday, June 21: “Got Poetry LIVE” 7:30 p.m. @ Blue State Coffee, Providence, RI

Tuesday, June 28: “Port Veritas Youth Slam” 7:30 p.m. @ Local Sprouts, Portland, ME

For more information contact: L Soul Brown, Director, Books of Hope 617-640-0252, griothouse@aol.com

“When there’s problems going on in our neighborhoods and our houses we seek hope through writing and hoping for a better tomorrow.” –JMass (18)

About Books of Hope:

Books of Hope (BOH) is a literacy empowerment program that brings creative writing workshops to at-risk urban and immigrant youth in the communities where they live. Its mission is to inspire the next generation of young authors. Founded in Somerville, MA in 1999, by writer and former NYC school teacher Anika Nailah, BOH trains urban youth in four key areas: writing, publishing, performance, and entrepreneurship. Professional writers and educators mentor youth in authoring books of poetry, fiction, memoir, and plays. Youth are also trained to publish, market, and distribute their books. Since its inception, the program has produced over 135 books written by youth ages 12-25. BOH is a collaborative program of Mystic Learning Center and Somerville Arts Council.

Books of Hope receives support from the Amelia Peabody Foundation, Cahn Fund for Social Change, Chahara Foundation, Drueding Foundation, Hunt Alternatives Fund, The Lenny Zakim Fund, Somerville Health Foundation, Somerville Housing Authority, Swanee Hunt Foundation, Target Foundation, Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund, and Youth Reach, a program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.