York County Libraries will hold its 14th annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Area students in ninth to 12th grades are invited to sign up for the free "We Are the Change" virtual event, which will feature author Justina Ireland. This year's program will focus on how teenagers can promote positive changes in their community. Local community leaders, library staff, and teen leaders will connect with students during interactive workshops.
Annually, YES is developed by the Martin Library Teen Leadership Committee for teen peers countywide. The event is free and provides a variety of activities intended to stimulate interest in civic engagement, educational opportunities, personal learning interests and career options. This is the first year the event will be held entirely online.
Ireland, who is the author of "Dread Nation" and its sequel, "Deathless Divide," will deliver the keynote address and conduct writing workshops. Ireland is the former co-editor in chief of FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, for which she won a World Fantasy Award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Armstrong Atlantic University and a Master of Fine Arts from Hamline University.
In 2019, YES received two statewide accolades from the Youth Services Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association. Annually, the association recognizes Pennsylvania libraries for their exceptional services to youths from birth to age 18 with Best Practices Awards. YES was awarded the first Humanities in Action Award, a new Best Practices Award created in partnership with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. In addition, it received the David J. Roberts EXCEL Award, which recognizes the best of the Best Practices Award winners.
Individuals may register for YES at http://www.yorklibraries.org/yes.
More information about York County Libraries is available at http://www.yorklibraries.org.
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