One Week Until MightyFest, Philly's Student Writing Celebration

MightyFest, Philadelphia's first student literacy festival organized by Mighty Writers, kicks off next Thursday, September 27. Highlights of the four-day festival include a free literacy carnival for kids, a keynote talk by New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, a soul dance party, and a Sunday morning gospel breakfast. See the complete schedule below.

MightyFest will introduce Mighty Writers to anyone not already aware of the positive impact of this organization on Philadelphia youth, while also bringing a fun celebration of reading and writing to all who attend the events. Proceeds from the ticketed events will be used to support the year-round free programming that Mighty Writers offers to Philadelphia and Camden students.

Mayor Jim Kenney said: "Philly kids are the Mightiest storytellers in the country, and we look forward to celebrating with them, alongside Mighty Writers, later this month at the first annual MightyFest. Having done so much great work for almost ten years to teach our young people how to think clearly and write with clarity, Mighty Writers helps show the world why Philadelphia's young people are second-to-none."

Tim Whitaker, Mighty Writers executive director, said: "MightyFest will show kids what being able to write with clarity can do, and how it can make them feel. We see what being able to write does for kids every day: grades improve, self-esteem soars, and success follows. MightyFest will help us spread the word that writing can take you places--and we'll make it fun in the process."

Named "Best of Philly" by Philadelphia Magazine in 2017, Mighty Writers continues to grow as it prepares for its tenth birthday in January. The nonprofit set a new record last year serving over 3,000 Philly kids through free afterschool academies, writing workshops, mentorships, and teen scholar programs. This year, the organization opened writing programs in two city rec centers and expanded across state lines with a new location in Camden, New Jersey.

MightyFest Schedule

Thursday, September 27: 

After school: Inaugural "Mighty Writers Day" at all neighborhood libraries, featuring reading and writing workshops for kids. Free.

Friday, September 28:
8:00pm - midnight: Soul music dance party at the Franklin Institute Planetarium, featuring special guest DJ Lil' Dave. Tickets on sale July 27.

Saturday, September 29:
10:00am - 4:00pm: Writing carnival across from the Franklin Institute at Aviator Park, with over 30 tents and activities for kids of all ages. Free.
7:30pm - 9:30pm: Keynote talk from Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times reporter and 2017 MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow, at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. Tickets on sale July 27.

Sunday, September 30: 
11:00am - 12:30pm: Gospel Breakfast at Girard College, featuring a tribute to the Dixie Hummingbirds. Tickets on sale July 27.

About Mighty Writers

Mighty Writers was founded in 2009 with the mission to teach kids to think clearly and write with clarity. The organization offers free programs for students from elementary through high school at centers in four diverse Philadelphia neighborhoods, including one bilingual location for Spanish-speaking students. Mighty Writers offers daily afterschool academies, long- and short-term writing classes nights and weekends, teen scholar programs, mentorships, College Prep courses and college essay writing classes. Over 400 of the city's best creative minds (writers, teachers, journalists, etc.) teach 150 writing classes a year to 3,000 kids at Mighty Writers annually.

Founder and executive director Tim Whitaker began his career teaching fifth and sixth grade in Philadelphia before becoming a writer and editor. He is the author of "Crash: The Life and Times of Dick Allen." He was the editor of Philadelphia Weekly (1994-2008), and previously the editor of PhillySport and Pittsburgh magazines. Whitaker was a head writer at NBC Radio and has written for The New York Times, Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer.