Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Community Spotlight: Rashawnda Williams, 826DC’s Young Writer in Residence

It’s time to unfurl the plushiest virtual red carpet, sound the bugle, and gather the most robustly feathered doves! We’re so thrilled to introduce you to Rashawnda Williams (pictured with Dr. Jill Biden), 826DC's first-ever Young Writer in Residence and 826 poet laureate. Some of Rashawnda’s incredible poems appeared in the 826DC publication City Blossoms, and as their Writer in Residence, she puts together a monthly blog post for the 826DC website. Rashawnda also read and spoke at Do the Write Thing, an event co-sponsored by 826DC and 826 National, alongside Dr. Jill Biden and author Maaza Mengiste.

“I did a poetry workshop in the middle of my sophomore year, and they published City Blossoms,” Rashawnda said. “I thought that was it until I got to go to the White House and meet and read with Dave Eggers at the book festival. I go to [Duke Ellington School of the Arts] and I’m in the Literary Media and Communications department, and they wanted us to find an internship related to what we would like to do in the future. … Then I thought of 826, and the rest is history. Sending that email was probably one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made.”

We’re glad that you sent that e-mail, too, Rashawnda! Click here to read the full interview in our November newsletter, in which Rashawnda discusses her ambitious college plans, her favorite writers, and the small pad and pen that she keeps handy to catch all of her creative ideas.