Be Well Be Here founder Lara Wilson created the Concord Young Writers Award (CYWA) in partnership with Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) to support local young writers and encourage inclusive teen leadership roles through the power of storytelling. The CYWA Club, led by CCHS co-presidents Rhone-Ann Huang and Varamihir Lennox, is advised by Lara and Andrew Nyamekye, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CCHS and member of the Concord Carlisle METCO board.

Established in Spring 2021, the CYWA Club organized an anonymous submission process and reviewed student-submitted manuscripts. Selected pieces were sent to this year's CWYA judges, celebrated YA authors Jennifer De Leon and Desmond Hall, who chose one top contender to receive the Concord Young Writers Award at the Concord Festival of Authors (CFA) in October.

Join us at the Concord Festival of Authors when the CYWA inaugural winner, Eleanor Konings, is honored online by judges Jennifer De Leon and Desmond Hall on October 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm.

For more information, see the Concord Festival of Authors website.