The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library Present
CONCORD FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS 2023
Keynote Speaker
Jennifer De Leon
“The Power of Storytelling”
Friday, October 20
7:00 PM
CFPL Goodwin Forum
“THE POWER OF STORYTELLING”
Join us for the CFA 2023 kick-off event with Keynote Speaker, Jennifer De Leon—editor, author, and professor of Creative Writing. In this honest and interactive talk, Jennifer will share some of the ways in which “story” can provide crucial insight into the complex intersection of race, class, and educational issues, dispelling myths and showcasing the diversity of our shared community’s experiences. She will reference excerpts from her books—the anthology, Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education, the Young Adult novels, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From and Borderless, and the essay collection, White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing—and engage with audience questions and reflections. Celebrate the Power of Storytelling in community at the Concord Free Public Library’s Goodwin Forum as we kick off the 2023 Concord Festival of Authors!
Jennifer De Leon
is the award-winning author of the YA novels, Borderless, featured on the TODAY show, and Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From. She is also the author of White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing and the editor of Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education. Jennifer served as Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and as a City of Boston Artist-in-Residence. She also received a We Need Diverse Books grant. Learn more and be inspired at jenniferdeleonauthor.com or on Instagram @jdeleonwriter.
Be Well Be Here in collaboration with
Concord Public Schools DEIB present
Jennifer De Leon at Concord-Carlisle High School:
A conversation for students about writers and writing
Friday, October 20
(open to CCHS students and teachers only)
As a teacher in the Boston Public School system who worked with METCO students for years, Jennifer De Leon masterfully engages with teens about storytelling, writing, reading and issues related to inclusion and belonging. She now teaches creative writing independently as well as at local universities, and is also the founder of Story Bridge, a community storytelling program based in NSBORO, MA.
Jennifer De Leon's website: jenniferdeleonauthor.com
About Jenn's recently published 4th book, Borderless
LISTEN to Jennifer discuss Borderless on NPR
