Thousands Prepare for National Celebration of Writing
Oct 15, 2018, 10:22 ET
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Writing has never been more central to our daily lives, and that's why this month tens of thousands of people across the country and around the world are talking about #WhyIWrite.
The National Day on Writing® (October 20), an initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), is built on the premise that writing is critical to literacy but needs greater attention and celebration. In its tenth anniversary year, this event promises to reach more people than ever before.
"Writing is the tool that we can use toward creating change," says Jacqueline Woodson, bestselling author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. "It is also the tool that we can use to empower ourselves to get our stories, our voices, our histories on the page for the rest of the world. It's a way of legitimizing our existence and letting ourselves be heard."
Woodson joins NCTE and the growing community of authors, publishers, nonprofit organizations, legislators, and more the organization has recruited to elevate the celebration this year.
Highlights include:
- A national Write-In led by Jacqueline Woodson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
- A bipartisan US Senate Resolution sponsored by Senator Roberts (R-KS) and Senator Casey (D-PA) recognizing the National Day on Writing
- A workshop on storytelling in New York City led by The Moth
- An #NCTEchat that explores the role writing can play in fostering a critical, civic form of empathy in schools
- A website filled with writing resources and events across the country
- A wildly popular tweet-up to the hashtag #WhyIWrite on October 19–20
"NCTE's vision for the National Day on Writing is taking new shape this year thanks to the contributions of so many," says NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick. "Writing is the currency of our life, and when the nation rallies to celebrate writing in this way, it's also a testament to the vital role teachers play in fostering a literate society."
Join the conversation and post your thoughts to #WhyIWrite today!
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is the nation's most comprehensive literacy organization, supporting more than 25,000 teachers across the preK–college spectrum. Through the expertise of its members, NCTE has served at the forefront of every major improvement in the teaching and learning of English and the language arts since 1911.
Press Contact: Jenna Fournel, Communications Director
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SOURCE National Council of Teachers of English