The Plug, June 9th, 2017

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June 09

The Plug, June 9th, 2017

by YCA Volunteer
Hello YCA Fam,

Welcome to our Friday blog, The Plug. Here we will be posting weekly about writing competitions, events, workshops, internships, & jobs that you can partake in. Some of these competitions and events are hosted by your next-door neighbors, and some from friends across the country. Many of these opportunities while rooted in poetry, will also allow you to explore different types of writing and art forms. If you explore any of these opportunities, share the experience on social media and tag us (@youngchiauthors on Twitter & @youngchicagoauthors on Instagram).

Competitions/Publications:

Girls Right the World (Publication)

“Girls Right the World is an international literary journal advocating for young, female-identified writers. We believe in the power of young women, sisterhood, and creativity through writing. The editors of this journal are students at Miss Hall’s School in Massachusetts.”
Creating Iris (Publication)

“Iris is a new literary magazine that launched in January 2014. Iris features new fiction for teens (roughly, ages 14-17) with an LGBTQAI slant. Iris is a safe place for young adults – a magazine which features engaging, transporting, challenging stories that offer a breath of fresh air in the young adult literary market.”
Youth Speaks– I Want To Live

“Across the United States, young men of color are often presented by the media – and perceived by the public, the police and law enforcement – as threatening, dangerous, and criminal. This puts them in life-threatening situations. YOUTH SPEAKS is calling for young men of color to share their experiences of being profiled and/or brutalized. Ultimately, we want to show the pervasiveness of this epidemic through the thousands of stories young men will tell. In the face of reckless disregard for the lives of young people, I Want To Live calls for an end to dehumanizing men of color. Share your story. Be a part of the solution.”
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: None
IUPUI Poetry Contest (Indiana Residents Only)

“The IUPUI Office of Academic Affairs, the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, and the IUPUI Department of English invite all high school age students within the state of Indiana to participate in the IUPUI Poetry Contest. The deadline for the 2017 contest is 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 15. First, second, and third-place winners will receive a monetary award, publication of their poem on our website, and are eligible to receive a $1500 scholarship upon enrollment at IUPUI. Students receiving honorable mentions will receive a book by one of our judges and publication on our site. All poetry contest applicants may receive additional scholarships upon being admitted to IUPUI based upon their academic and financial aid qualifications.”
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: Monday, June 15th, 2017
Kay Snow Writing Contest

“The purpose of this annual writing contest, named in honor of Willamette Writers’ founder, Kay Snow, is to help writers reach professional goals in writing through a broad array of categories, and also to encourage student writers. In addition to prizes, winners will be listed on the Willamette Writers website and honored at our Willamette Writers Conference held annually in August.”
Entry Fee: Entries in the college student category are $10 each, entries in the student category in the three grade divisions are free.
Deadline: Thursday, June 15th, 2017
Rattle Young Poets Anthology Guidelines
“Way back in 1998, Rattle published an issue featuring poems written by children. Unfortunately it is now out of print. Starting in 2013, we’ve extended that idea, and began publishing an annual anthology of young poets. The books are available in print, and all of the poems appear as daily content on this website on Saturdays throughout the year. Every poet contributing receives two free print copies.”
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: Thursday, June 15th, 2017
Brave New Schools Competition

“Submit original videos with poems/raps/stories (up to 3 minutes) that ReThink the Brave New Schools of our future (Must be 13-24 years old as of May 8, 2017, to enter). Entry is subject to full competition terms and conditions, posted on the challenge site.”
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: Monday, June 15th, 2017
2017 Ocean Awareness Student Contest
“At Bow Seat, we recognize the power of our young ocean caretakers, and our goal is to inspire them to lead the way to finding innovative solutions to ocean pollution. We want you to #BeTheChange. You may choose to focus your work on one type of pollution, or the impact of ocean pollution as a whole. Whichever way you choose, we want your submission – visual art, poetry, prose, or film–to make viewers reflect on the impact of ocean pollution, inspire them to consider possible solutions, and challenge them to take action.”
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: Monday, June 19th, 2017
Skipping Stones

“The Youth Honor Awards recognize creative and artistic works by young people that promote multicultural, international and nature awareness. 
Entry Fee: $5
Deadline: Sunday, June 25th, 2017
Links: http://www.skippingstones.org/youthhonor-02.htm
 

Gigantic Sequins: Teen Sequins 2017

“Our annual Teen Sequins feature is designed to present outstanding poetry from writers ages 13 through 19. While teenage voices are slowly being given more opportunities in literary communities, we don’t see it happen enough in association with nationally distributed journals like Gigantic Sequins. Each year we feature one poet from each age category, and honor every poet who has submitted. Our goal is to show the world what we know: just exactly how vibrant, inventive, and moving teenage writers can be.”
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: July 20th, 2017

Upcoming Classes:

SheCrew- Annual Summer Intensive

“[A] 6-week journaling to performance summer program for girls in Chicago ages 12-14. {she crew}’s multidisciplinary curriculum involves: creative journal writing, theatrical movement, voice & speech classes, professional workshops, improvisation, theatre games, nutritious cooking and shared meals to create community and generate new artistic works.”
Start Date: June 27-August 6th, Tuesdays-Fridays.
Location: 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607
Writing & Thinking Workshop (Rolling Admission)

“Supportive faculty work with students in small groups to help them develop confidence in their voices as writers. Participants learn strategies to generate fresh and compelling ideas, the kind of well-reasoned ideas first-rate colleges and universities expect from their students. Trips to Chicago’s museums and cultural events offer additional inspiration. You’ll grow in ways that you can now only imagine.”
Start Date: Sunday, June 25th, 2017
Location: 555 North Sheridan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Write To The City (Rolling Admission, First Come, First Serve)

“Over one hundred young writers from all corners of the city and across the country come together for one week of nonstop art. Students take daily field trips within Chicago’s arts scene and rich cultural landscape, exploring visual, performance, and literary arts, building community, and developing a body of work through workshops led by world-class poets and artists. WTTC is a fee-based program, with scholarships available to qualifying students.”
Start Date: Monday, July 10th, 2017
Location: 400 S Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607

Events:
Wordplay

“WordPlay is the longest-running youth open mic in Chicago. Every Tuesday night, poets aged 12-25 come through Young Chicago Authors to participate in a writing workshop, perform their original work, and listen to music and poetry by artists of all genre and skill level.”
Event Date: Every Tuesday starting at 6:00pm
Entry Fee: None
Location: 1180 N Milwaukee Ave, #2 / Chicago, IL 60642
In One Ear 18+ (Unless accompanied by a parent/guardian)

“Pete Wolf! Billy Tuggle! Every Wednesday night at 9!
FREE PARKING AT CHURCH LOT, Morse and Ashland, till 3am
Morse stop on the Red-line, North Exit (Lunt Ave.) Very inviting and supportive mix of folks of all ages, skill sets, and walks of life coming together to share out arts, moods, comedies and stories. Come and Join our family!”
Event Date: Every Wednesday starting at 9:00pm
Entry Fee: $3
Location: 7000 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Hot Sauce Poetry

“Hot Features, Free Food/Jerk Chicken, Free Wine, Hot DJ, Dope Open Mic, Dynamic Hosts. Meet New People, Prizes & Games.”
Event Date: Friday, June 9th, 7:30pm–10:00pm
Location: 1539 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60623
Chicago Equality Rally at Andersonville Midsommarfest

“The Chicago LGBTQ community and allies will be gathering Sunday, June 11 at 11AM at Andersonville Midsommarfest 2017 in solidarity with the The Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington, DC. Speakers and musical performances will promote visibility, unity, and pride.”
Event Date: Sunday, June 11th, 11:00am–12:30pm
Location: 5400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Links: Facebook

SheFest

“SheFest (formerly LezFest) is Pride Films & Plays’ semi-annual variety show which celebrates Chicago’s queer female and non-binary artists through spoken word poetry, Moth-style stories, comedy, clowning, a fire act, and dance. SheFest is produced and directed by Iris Sowlat and Julia Rufo, and stage-managed by Daiva Paulis.”
Event Date: Monday June 12th, 7:30pm–9:30pm
Entry Fee: General Admission is $10, VIP is $15
Location: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
21Minus

“Join us for an afternoon of art experiences designed and led by Chicagoland youth whose project proposals were selected to be part of 21Minus. This year’s event includes over 30 artists representing 24 neighborhoods—from South Deering to Des Plaines, Archer Heights to Albany Park, Woodlawn to Little Village, and more.”
Event Date: Saturday, June 17th, 1:00pm–6:00pm
Location: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Links: Facebook
 
Poetry Among The Palms: Ed Roberson

“Poetry Among the Palms: Readings:Ed Roberson and other poets read W.S. Merwin and others inspired by nature and the outdoors among the exhibits at the Garfield Park Conservatory, along with kids’ activities. Presented in partnership with the Poetry Center of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.”
Event Date: Thursday June 29th, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Location: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
Job & Internship Opportunities:
 
The Queens of the Castro 2017 for Chicago and NYC Scholarship

“All 16-25-year-olds in Chicago and NYC who identify with the LGBTQ+ community can apply for $1000.”
Deadline: Thursday, June 15th, 2017
Links: http://queensofthecastro.com/scholarships