Kweli Journal celebrates and support #OwnVoices with The Color of Children’s Literature Conference in New York. On April 7th at The Graduate Center/CUNY, join top editors, agents, authors & illustrators in the children’s publishing world. Their spring conference is an excellent opportunity for writers and illustrators of color to learn, get inspired and network with others in the industry.

They are also offering critiques from some of the faculty. Some of those participating are:

• Associate agent Kurestin Armada, P.S Literary
• Associate Editor Kheryn Callender, Hachette Book Group
• Literary agent Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary
• Literary agent Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary
• Editor Joanna Cardenas at Kokila Books, a new imprint of Penguin Young Readers
• Editor Cheryl Klein, Lee & Low Books
• Senior Editor Kate Sullivan, Delacorte Press of Penguin Random House
• Associate Editor Kait Feldmann, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Books
• Junior agent Serene Hakim, Ayesha Pande Literary
• And many, many more! (See the full list here.)

They have an exciting line up with keynote address by MacArthur “Genius” ANGELA JOHNSON, and panels and workshops with award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors and illustrators SAMIRA AHMED, JULIE FLETT, RITA WILLIAMS GARCIA, VASHTI HARRISON, KAZU KIBUISHI, JOHN PARRA, JAVAKA STEPTOE, NIC STONE, RENEE WATSON, HEIDI HEILIG, and others. Keep watch on the #Kweli18 hashtag on Twitter as @bottomshelfbks announces more that aren’t currently showing on the list. It’s going to be a fabulous event! Go here to register.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.