Successful Community Writing Conference Sets Tone for 2015 Event

As positive reviews continue to come in for UNC Charlotte’s University Writing Program’s first community-wide writing conference in 2014, planners are looking toward a fall 2015 event.

“I think that the attendees left the conference energized for a new year and ready to approach our classrooms enriched with critical pedagogy,” said conference organizer and University Writing Program instructor Kendra Andrews. “I believe that the tone of the conference was one of simultaneous collegiality and independence. We all want to work together to become the best educators that we can be individually.”

Over 60 people from public schools, higher education institutions and libraries in the Charlotte area attended the conference at UNC Charlotte Center City on Sept. 12, hearing from 20 presenters. The conference title, “Bridging Inquiries: Research, Process, and Literacy From High School to Higher Ed,” set the tone for the discussions.

The writing program faculty development committee created the conference by converting several small-scale, half-day conferences previously held just for UWP faculty. The committee wanted to bring forward ideas from these smaller workshops and combine them with similar conversations being held in community colleges, middle schools, and high schools throughout the region. By organizing these discrete conversations into a central setting, they believed the broad-based audience could share knowledge and learn from one another.

Attendees agreed with the strategy, sharing positive comments and photos on social media, using the hashtag #bridginginquiries.

“@justinrcary is speaking my language… #bridginginquiries,” freelance writer Emilia Fuentes Grant posted. “#bridginginquiries Mary Ellen enlightens us,” UNC Charlotte first-year writing lecturer Barbara Presnell wrote.

Strong presentations and presenters, and an outstanding response to the call for papers contributed to the conference’s success, said organizer and UWP instructor Suzanne Ingram.

Also adding to the success was “the careful planning and hard work of the conference committee, who had never done this before but organized a great conference,” Ingram said. The professional setting at UNC Charlotte Center City also drew positive reviews.

The day began with a keynote address by Lil Brannon of the UNC Charlotte Writing Project. During Brannon’s talk, attendees participated in short writing activities, which fostered discussion about how to build literacy and inquiry across educational levels. Throughout the day, attendees heard presentations on topics including student writing practices and processes, responding to and grading student writing, and other ideas for the classroom.

The final presentation of the day was a lively roundtable session, “Building Bridges through Inquiry and Discussion: Current Questions and Continuing Conversations,” led by UNC Charlotte faculty members Justin Cary, Cat Mahaffey, and Meaghan Rand and moderated by Joan Mullin, executive director of the University Writing Program.

To add to the type of resources available, book vendors displayed new books throughout the day and were available to discuss ideas for classroom textbooks.

While still considering this year’s topic, the UWP has already decided to continue with this new model for its second annual conference in fall 2015. The switch from early September to a later date also proved more convenient for public school teachers, allowing more voices to join the conversation.

The call for papers will come in January 2015. The conference committee also hopes to offer Continuing Education Units for public school teachers seeking to renew their state teaching license

Words: Mary-Elizabeth “Beth” Greene, Jessica Morton
Image: Courtesy of the University Writing Program