Listen in to this literary conference for high school students, college students and their teachers. Tony Award winner and Def Poetry Jam Poet Staceyann Chin gives this keynote address. Ceasar McDowell of Dropping Knowledge also gives a special presentation.

This talk was part of a series of workshops organized by Young Chicago Authors, an arts organization that encourages self-expression and literacy through creative writing, performance and publication. YCA provides student-centered, artist-led workshops free to youth ages 13-19. YCA’s process emphasizes artistic development, mentorship and creating safe spaces where a young person’s life matters. They believe that through their words, young people can promote tolerance and remove barriers to transform their lives and society.

This program was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council.

Recorded Friday, February 20, 2009 at Film Row Cinema.