Local Teen Tess Kelly to serve as delegate for International Congress of Youth Voices
Cleveland teen writer Tess Kelly will be going to San Francisco as a student delegate at the International Congress of Youth Voices. During the weekend of Aug 3-5, students from around the world, ages 16-20, will gather to learn with and from accomplished writers, activists, entrepreneurs, and elected officials.
Though politics of the world affect young people as much as anyone else, youth have little to no voice as major decisions are made. The International Congress of Youth Voices is an initiative founded by author Dave Eggers and nonprofit leader Amanda Uhle to amplify the ideas and energy of our youth and to unite young people for a weekend of collaboration. On the final day, the delegates will work together to craft a document “declaring the rights of youth to participate in and be heard in the political realm,” according to Eggers.
Tess Kelly has been an active participant in Lake Erie Ink programs for six years, not only as a writer but also as a mentor for younger students. Notably, Kelly has been a guest speaker for the Young Novelists summer camp and a member of LEI’s teen performance team, which performs poetry and prose at community events such as Station Hope (pictured). Amy Rosenbluth, Lake Erie Ink’s executive director and co-founder, says, “Lake Erie Ink is proud to support Kelly’s continued growth as a writer and activist. We look forward to seeing what she will accomplish at the conference and in our community.”
See Tess Kelly’s bio here.
Read more about the International Congress of Youth Voices on their website or in this The Guardian article.