News and Notes

A few brief news & notes:

First, local super blogger Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit posted a characteristically well written review of Mahbod Seraji's Rooftops of Tehran today. And, for the poets out there, Serena hosts Virtual Poetry each Saturday. She posts a poem and others "gather" to discuss live. Sound cool? Sure does.

Then C.M. Mayo sent along this upcoming story competition through the IDB Cultural Center (Centro Cultural del BID)

Regional Story Competition: bettertomorrow@now
Concurso Regional de Cuento: mejorfuturo@ahora

ENGLISH:

The Inter-American Development Bank invites young people (16-20 years old) born in Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in a Creative Writing Competition with cash prizes. The competition is called "bettertomorrow@now" and will open a dialogue between the IDB and young people, to learn more about their ideas, goals, challenges, and dreams for the future. The stories will focus on one of the five priority initiatives of the IDB: poverty reduction; education; sustainable energy and climate change; water and sanitation; and opportunities for the majority. Rules of the competition: click here

ESPAÑOL:

El BID invita a los jóvenes a involucrarse en la construcción de un mejor mañana para la región convocándolos al Concurso Regional de cuento "mejorfuturo@ahora". A través del relato corto, el BID busca estimular un diálogo abierto con los jóvenes, de 16 a 20 años, para conocer sus ideas, metas, desafíos y sueños de futuro sobre América Latina y el Caribe. Los cuentos deberán basarse en una de las cinco iniciativas prioritarias del BID tales como: reducción de la pobreza; educación; energía sostenible y cambio climático: agua y saneamiento; y oportunidades para la mayoría. Bases del concurso: entre aquí


The Theatre Lab is looking for interns to assist in the final week (August 24-28) of its Summer Acting Camp for Kids.

There is a small stipend available for college students, or earn community service hours. If interested, please send an e-mail to contact@theatrelab.org.

Author Marita Golden will present the lecture, A Black Woman Writer in Israel My Own Piece of the Middle East, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW. September 15, 2009 at 6:30pm,

And lastly, on Sept. 23rd National Geographic Live! presents An Evening With Amy Tan
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Price: General Public: $25

Discussion with author Amy Tan and National Geographic Traveler Contributing Editor, Don George (Look for more on this later at First Person Plural).