Youth Voices Writers' Contest

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The WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Youth Ambassador chooses the theme for the contest each year, encourages youth to apply, serves as a judge, and writes the foreword for the WE READ Youth Voices Anthology in the fall. 

"We're excited to welcome Justin Festge Russell, Madison's Youth Poet Laureate, as the Youth Ambassador for this year's contest," said Madison Public Library's Youth Services Manager Tammy Ocampo. "Justin is enthusiastic about fostering the next generation of writers in Madison, and he's a shining example of a young person who has accomplished so much by pursuing their creative passions." 

Justin Festge-Russell, or JEXIZIS, is the Madison Youth Poet Laureate and a 19-year-old student at UW Madison. Justin specializes in hip-hop, poetry, and creative production. He is also a member of a full tuition Hip-Hop, Activism & Urban Arts Scholarship called First Wave. Justin works with youth to explore and uncover their artistic prowess. He's currently pursuing a degree in education with the goal of impacting the lives of youth with positive direction. 

“Inspired by Madison Public Library's 150th Anniversary, this year's Youth Voices Writing Contest theme is all about Roots,” said Russell. “Whether your story is about going back to your roots to examine your personal history and revisit moments that were worth holding on to, exploring moments of conflict where you had to get to the root of the issue, or planting new ideas and growing together from the roots up, we want to hear them!”