Making Peace with the Pen: How Teenage Boys Assert the Writer Within

<p>February 2&ndash;5, 2011 | Washington, D.C.<br />

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            <strong>Making Peace with the Pen: How Teenage Boys Assert the Writer Within <br />

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            </strong>February 5 | Palladian Ballroom, Omni Shoreham Hotel, West Lobby  S142<br />

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            With Stacy Leigh, Dave Johnson, Gregory Pardlo, and Roger Sedarat <br />

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            Many teen writing workshops include boys&mdash;quiet, eyeing the door, plotting escape. Why do many young men struggle to declare themselves as writers? What weighs down teenage boys from marginalized communities seeking creative community? Male writers who made the decision to write as teenagers share insights gained as students, teachers, and mentors, on messages and methods to help teenage boys embrace creative community.

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            <strong>Celebrating 50 Years of Freedom to Write Advocacy</strong>

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            </strong>February 5 |&nbsp;Regency Ballroom, Omni Shoreham Hotel, West Lobby  S224<br />

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            With Larry Siems, Major Jackson, Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, and Azar Nafisi<br />

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            Freedom to Write, PEN American Center&rsquo;s flagship program, is celebrating 50 years of working to defend free expression globally.  Several PEN members&mdash;Major Jackson, Joanne Leedom Ackerman, and Azar Nafisi&mdash;and PEN&rsquo;s director of Freedom to Write, Larry Siems, will offer an hour of readings and discussion related to PEN&rsquo;s advocacy work.  They will touch upon PEN&rsquo;s recent activities in China, Russia, and Iran, as well as PEN&rsquo;s work against book-banning and for reader privacy in the U.S.</p>