The New School at the SCBWI Conference
Sally Deen, a second-year MFA candidate in Writing for Children and Young Adults, shares highlights from her experience volunteering at this year’s SCBWI conference on behalf of The New School.
I volunteered for The New School at the SCBWI conference. A highlight of my day was attending Professor Andrea Davis Pinkney’s event about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She began the DEI social by leading us in singing her rendition of “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around,” changing the lyrics to be about making the most out of our experience at the conference. Professor Pinkney then delved into the importance of, what she calls “killing the committee,” ignoring the negative voices in your head and going after your goals. Despite having taken a class with Professor Pinkney last year, I was just as captivated as the rest of the room as she summarized her career journey. She then gave us prompts about our past professional experiences and the goals we’re working towards. We spoke in small groups about our answers, which allowed for the perfect networking environment. During the remainder of the event people shared information about organizations for marginalized creators and upcoming conferences we could benefit from attending. Other students who volunteered had the opportunity to attend the Publishing Industry Panel, and events with Erin Entraa Kelly, Peter Brown, and Sophie Blackall. Professor Coe Booth hosted a social event focused on Middle Grade and YA writers. It was packed with great questions, advice swapping, and people sharing their love of writing for young readers! SCBWI was a great opportunity for making connections and fostering community. I plan on going back next year and exploring more of what the conference has to offer!
Sally is a second year student with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She writes contemporary YA and new adult fiction, exploring themes of race, class, family dynamics, and mental health. Sally has completed marketing internships at Macmillan and Simon & Schuster. She graduated from George Mason University with a BFA in Creative Writing and a minor in Film & Media Studies.