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Media -- For Immediate Release
Fifth Annual Rainbow Bookfest The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation is pleased to present its Fifth Annual Rainbow Bookfest, to be held on Saturday, April 28 2007 at the Asian Resource Center, 1025 S. King St, in Seattle. Rainbow Bookfest is the first organized effort in the United States to bring authors of color together under one roof. The goal is to provide a venue for them to share and interact with readers from both mainstream and minority communities by providing diverse perspectives and rich cultural experiences.
Sponsored by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, this free one-day event is open to the public and features guest speakers, author readings, dramatic presentations, panel discussions, food, and local vendors. In addition to hosting a young adult Dramatic Reading Contest and awards ceremony, this year's program will also highlight local author Kathleen Alcala and more than 20 other notable authors of color.
The Northwest Asian Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Northwest Asian Weekly, an award-winning local newspaper in circulation for over 25 years. For more information, contact: The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation NW ASIAN WEEKLY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation is pleased to present its fifth Young Writers Essay Contest, sponsored by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. The theme for this year's competition is "My Favorite Activity." The essay contest is open to Washington State students ages 12-18, and is designed to encourage creativity in young people, especially those of multi-cultural heritage. "In this age of email and text messaging, strong writing skills are more important than ever," says Assuna Ng, publisher of the NW Asian Weekly and founder of the NW Asian Weekly Foundation. "Writing with style, clarity, conviction, passion and power takes practice. We hope this writing contest will encourage many students to develop their creative expression." The competition is open to all High School students (grades 6-12) in Washington State . Entries will be judged in three age categories. Finalists will be selected from each age group and the winners will be honored at The Fifth Annual Rainbow Bookfest on April 28, 2007 at the Asian Resource Center , 1025 S. King St. in Seattle . Winners in each age group will receive a cash prize--$100 for first place, $75 for second place, and $25 for third place. Entries by finalists will be published in the Bookfest program and all participants will receive a certificate of achievement. For more information regarding the contest guidelines and entry information, The Rainbow Bookfest, also sponsored by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, is a yearly multi-cultural festival organized to bring authors of color and their work to the both mainstream and minority communities. The one day event features guest speakers, author readings, dramatic presentations, panel discussions, food, and local vendors. This year's program, to be held on April 28, 2007 at the Asian Resource Center , will feature keynote speaker Kathleen Alcala, local author of Treasures in Heaven , and many other notable authors of color. The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Northwest Asian Weekly, an award-winning local newspaper in circulation for over 25 years. For more information, contact: The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation ^ Return to Top: Press Release links NW ASIAN WEEKLY FOUNDATION SPONSORS 2007 ANNUAL The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation is pleased to present its second Dramatic Presentation Contest, to be held at the Fifth Annual Rainbow Bookfest on April 28, 2007 at the Asian Resource Center, 1025 S. King St, in Seattle. Students are invited to showcase a literary selection of their choice onstage, using dramatic expression such as costuming, props, or theatrical voice techniques. The competition is open to all High School students (grades 9-12) in Washington State and is designed to promote diversity and encourage young people to explore literature written by authors of color. "Dramatic presentation is a great opportunity for young people to learn from researching multicultural authors and literature, gain public speaking experience and confidence, and develop their creative expression," says Assunta Ng, publisher of the NW Asian Weekly and president of the NW Asian Weekly Foundation, sponsors of the event. "Last year, five schools from several different school districts participated," Ng adds. "We hope to have even more entrants this year from all over Western Washington. An event like this is lots of fun, but it will also enhance the students' resumes." Each contestant will have five minutes to read or recite to the general audience and panel of judges. Performances will be evaluated on presentation skills such as organization, eye contact and diction, as well as overall enthusiasm. The winners will receive cash awards ($500 for first place, $250 for second place, $150 for third place) as well as a selection of multicultural books donated to their school libraries. For more information regarding the contest guidelines and entry information, The Rainbow Bookfest, also sponsored by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, is a yearly multi-cultural festival organized to bring authors of color and their work to the both mainstream and minority communities. The one day event features guest speakers, author readings, dramatic presentations, panel discussions, food, and local vendors. This year's program, to be held on April 28, 200 at the Asian Resource Center , will feature keynote speaker Kathleen Alcala, local author of Treasures in Heaven , and many other notable authors of color. The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Northwest Asian Weekly, an award-winning local newspaper in circulation for over 25 years. For more information, contact: The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation |
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Copyright 2007. Rainbow Book Festival, Seattle, Washington |
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"The Rainbow Bookfest was created to provide young readers with models to follow,”says Carmen Flores Palomera (pictured left), who has been the festival's Director for the past five years. “A whole new world opens up to them when, through the joy of reading, they learn of other cultures. They learn that there is more than one way to view the world. That realization turns them into more knowledgeable, more productive, and, ultimately, more altruistic citizens of the world." 
Kathleen Alcala