Author Veronica Chambers, and author/illustrator Mira Jacob were the featured Agents of Change honorees in the third installment of our 2019 Spring Series—the May CHAPTERS Reading at the N-Y Historical Society. Both honorees shared childhood memories, paid homage to their mentors, and shared advice with our mentees in their keynote addresses. Veronica and Mira also signed their latest books, Queen Bey: A Celebration of the Power and Creativity of Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations, respectively.
Our emcees and honorees (left to right): Adriana Cisneros, Ariana Bacle, Veronica Chambers, and Mira Jacob.
Honoree Veronica Chambers speaking to an honoree during our book signing.
Honoree Mira Jacob during our book signing.
GIRLS WRITE NOW READERS
Today’s mentees bravely and confidently showcased their best work, reading about female empowerment, overcoming fears and insecurities, and what it means to grow up:
Lila Cooper, Outside; Naomi Habtu, An Ode to Anxiety; Ayana Smith & Cecily Robinson, Ode to Menstruation; Faiza Khanom, My Nani; Laura Geringer-Bass, From ANGLORY! The Story of a Big Girl; Saradine Nazaire, For Once; Ciara McKay, Aphrodite and the Sea; Rubit Hernandez & Nicole Chu, Pen Pals in Person; Angely Morel, Teenager; Siarra Francois, An Open Letter to Women; Jayli Milan Christopher, Courting Zeus; Natalie Mojica, Self Conscience; Kayla Santos Sabino, Uncle (Let’s say) Bob; Lola Bakare, The Bad Old Days; Berna Da’Costa, an ode to thirteen-year-old me; Isabel Golightly, An Ode to Writing; Genesis Cespedes Mora, TICKET TO HELL; Janein Brookes, Caribbean Demigod; Gianny Guzman, Steps
Mentee Lila Cooper kicking off the reading event with her piece, “Outside”
Mentee/Mentor Pair Saradine Nazaire (L) and Laura Geringer-Bass (R) reading “For Once”
Mentee Gianny Guzman reading her piece, “Steps”
Our readers of the night posing with the honorees, Veronica and Mira
EMCEES
- Adriana Cisneros is a graduating senior from Staten Island. She will be attending TISCH school of the arts with a focus in Drama. As a rising actor she soon hopes to write and star in her own movies. And to be able to bring important stories to light. But, mostly just to add something to your Netflix binge.
- Ariana Bacle is a writer, editor, and Girls Write Now mentor from Key West, Florida. She graduated with a degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University and currently works in the digital marketing department at HBO after previously writing and editing for Entertainment Weekly. In her spare time, she likes to work on screenplays with her so-funny-it-hurts mentee, film claymation shorts, and watch TV comedies — the sillier the better.
Mentee/Mentor Pair Adriana Cisneros (R) and Ariana Bacle (L) hosting as emcees
PERFORMANCES
Watch the speakers of the night, from our honorees to our mentees, in the playlist below!
HONOREE INTERVIEW
Watch our exclusive interview with Veronica Chambers and Mira Jacob below! You can also watch Veronica’s and Mira’s respective keynote addresses here and here!
Thank you to everyone who has attended any of our Spring Series events this year!