House of Morrow is excited to announce the launch of the Diverse Voices/Voces Diversas Literacy
Program and student anthology with the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary School!
Program Description:
House of Morrow is a local arts fund within the Emporia Community Foundation. It focuses on providing
programs and services, primarily focused on the arts, to Emporia youth. House of Morrow Board Member Linzi
Garcia, as well as specially invited local guest authors, artists, and performers led a creative writing program
designed to engage the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary in the art of creative writing using language in
conventional and experimental ways, including with poetry, music, and visual art. This program emphasizes
nurturing creativity, enhancing writing skills, fostering self-expression, and promoting personal and peer
acceptance.
Each student was gifted a notebook and custom pen, provided by local printer, Chester Press, to use during this
program and beyond.
Classroom guests included Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas, artist Deon Morrow, and theatre
teacher Kacie Hastings. The students engaged in lessons twice a week for five weeks during their usual
language arts time.
At the end of this program, an anthology of the students’ creative works from this time was published by local
book publisher, Meadowlark Press. This means each of the 42 students is a published author! Chester Press
printed the book.
House of Morrow and Walnut Elementary are hosting a book launch and reading event to celebrate the
students’ creations. The event will take place from 6 - 8 p.m., May 7th, at the Clint Bowyer Building. The
event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. Copies of the book will be gifted
to students. The books will also be available for purchase, serving as a fundraiser for Walnut Elementary
School and House of Morrow.
Funding this program was made possible in part by the United Way United for Racial Equity Grant. The grant,
as well as House of Morrow funds, covered the cost of notebooks, pens, guest speaker compensation, book
printing, and event supplies. House of Morrow extends a hearty thank you to United Way and to everyone who
has donated to House of Morrow.
Pictures of this program and event will be posted on the House of Morrow Instagram page
(@hom.thehouseofmorrow) as well as the Meadowlark Press Facebook page
(facebook.com/readameadowlarkbook).
For more information about this program, please reach out to Linzi Garcia at linzigarcia@gmail.com.
If you would like to donate to House of Morrow, please visit:
https://www.emporiacf.org/donate.cfm?fid=2528#top-of-form
House of Morrow ● PO Box 1238 ● Emporia, KS 66801
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House of Morrow Mission:
Our goal is to assist underserved communities in Emporia through the cultivation of public art and
services. We aim to positively impact the community by creating innovative programs for the youth and
providing them with tools to make a difference in their lives. We strive to empower those in need and
foster a sense of community through public service and art projects. Working together will create a
better future for Emporia and its residents.
Linzi Garcia Bio:
Linzi Garcia lives in Emporia, where she serves as the publicist and poetry editor for Meadowlark Press
and as a board member for House of Morrow. While earning her MA in creative writing from Emporia
State University, she worked as the graduate assistant to Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas
and as an editorial assistant with Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review. During that time, she also
worked as a composition professor at the university and a reporter for The Emporia Gazette. Linzi has
facilitated over 50 community writing workshops and poetry readings across Kansas. She is the author
of Thank You (Spartan Press, 2018) and co-author of Live a Great Story (Analog Submission Press,
2019) and While Away: Travel Poems (Spartan Press, 2022). Linzi is a recipient of a 2023 NextGen
Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.
Deon Morrow Bio:
Deon Morrow, a passionate advocate for education, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our
literacy program. As an integral part of our school community, Deon is committed to creating an
environment where students not only excel academically but also discover the joy of reading. With a
background in educational leadership, Deon understands the importance of instilling a love for learning
in our students. Deon is also a recipient of a 2024 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category.