Hayfield Youth Festival To Feature Michelle Obama's Photographer

FRANCONIA, VA—Hayfield Secondary School will hold the first-ever Youth Cultural Book & Arts Festival with notable headliners on Sunday, April 7 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. The one-day event aims to promote youth literacy, highlighting authors, activities and books for youth of all ages.

The headliner program features interactive presentations, interviews and meet & greets with authors. The headliners include Erica Armstrong Dunbar (author of "Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave," "Ona Judge" and the young readers edition of "Never Caught"); Michelle Obama’s White House photographer Amanda Lucidon, (author of "Reach Higher" and "Chasing Light"); and Jesse J. Holland ("Who is the Black Panther?").

Podcaster and storyteller Angélique Roché will interview Holland. Authors will be available for book signings after their presentations, and the first 100 attendees will receive a free copy of Erica Armstrong Dunbar’s "Never Caught" young readers edition.

Other programming and entertainment is geared toward teens and younger children. BASIS Independent McLean will hold a Children's Corner with a live performance from Callaloo, a DC group promoting cultural understanding and social awareness education for toddlers and children. Families can also meet authors and attend special book readings by dads of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.’s Northern Virginia Chapter.

Teens can attend panels separated by gender. Rodney Walker, author of "A New Day One: Trauma, Grace and a Young Man’s Journey from Foster Care to Yale" and Daryl Towe, author of "Conquering Purpose: 7 Assists to Overcoming Average" will lead a discussion for teen boys. Danielle Craddock, founder of Girls Inspired & Ready to Lead, Inc., will lead the discussion for teen girls. Others participating include seniors of the Alexandria-Mt. Vernon Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., who published a book of essays titled "Why I Matter: A Teen Perspective."

The festival is being held by Jack and Jill of America, Inc.’s Northern Virginia Chapter, the Hayfield Black Student Union and AVID. Admission is free, but attendees should register at https://jjbookfestival2019.eventbrite.com.

Hayfield Secondary School is located at 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria.