A standing-room only crowd gathered at the Historic Savannah Theatre on Feb. 3, for a book launch and to celebrate the newly-published writing of 172 local public school students. The event, called “Deep Speaks!” is held semiannually by local nonprofit organization, the Deep Center.
Yusef McArthur, a sixth grade student at Myers Middle School won the top award for his writing, earning the coveted title “DeepKid Laureate.” McArthur was nominated and selected from a pool of his peers at 14 public middle schools. The Board of Directors at the Deep Center recognized his writing for its originality, vivid description, and fearless style.
The Deep Center, founded in 2008, is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides writing workshops for Savannah public school students. Deep currently provides 400 scholarships every year to the semester-long program at middle schools across the Savannah Chatham County district. The aim of the organization is to help kids write and share their stories skillfully, confidently, and courageously.
McArthur’s winning piece, a poem titled “The Weight On My Shoulders Is Red” explores the pressures of a modern-day middle school student.