We're so pleased to announce that we were able to award two Native Writer Scholarships for the 2011 conference. The first went to Monty Little, and the second to Tennessee native Khara Ellesante. Both will read from their work during the conference on Saturday the 16th, at 12:30 pm at the Sagebrush.
Here's some info on Khara:
Khara Ellasante is a Two-Spirit Choctaw/African American poet, artist, and activist. In her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, Khara studied Sociology and Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, where she is a grad student in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. Her academic work focuses on the historic intersections and acculturative influences of American Indian, African American, and West African literature and music as well as Two-Spirit and Queer experiences portrayed in literature. Khara’s current creative work centers around her families’ histories and the expression and assertion of variegated gender and ethnic identities in a “check-box” culture. She is a staunch advocate for LGBTQ2 youth and an aficionado of the Blues.
Congratulations Khara, and can't wait to see you all tomorrow (or, shortly) in Taos!
