Birthday Celebration! Second Annual Dr. Maya Angelou Day of Reading

 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will participate in the second annual Dr. Maya Angelou Day of Reading celebration in honor of her birthday on April 4th. In advance of Dr. Angelou’s birthday, WS/FCS will host a program centered around her poem “Continue.” The event will include an essay writing contest for seniors sponsored by The Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation. The top prize is $5,000. Second place will receive $3,000 and third place $1,800.
Dr. Maya Angelou wrote the poem “Continue” for Oprah Winfrey and gave it to her as a birthday gift to serve as a lifelong source of encouragement. Local journalist Talitha Vickers wrote a letter to Winfrey asking if she would share that gift with WS/FCS students for The Dr. Maya Angelou Day of Reading which Vickers founded. “I am beyond grateful and honored that Oprah agreed, said Vickers. “Students and staff are truly in for a real treat this year. After all they have been through, this personal message is one they will not forget!”
Ms. Winfrey will be one of several guest readers who will participate virtually. Others include Bill O’Neil, Lanie Pope, DaVonte McKenith and Talitha Vickers of WXII 12 News, Natalie Wilson of FOX8 WGHP and Brian Hart, the Forsyth County Library Director and other community members.
Students, staff and the entire community are encouraged to read Dr. Maya Angelou’s poem “Continue” and share their thoughts about the poem or an act of kindness on social media using #DRAngelouGift for Angelou’s birthday celebration. Organizers and supporters of the Day of Reading are asking community members to do an act of kindness in her honor this weekend.
Essay submissions are due by April 30, 2021. The attached flyer contains more information about the contest sponsored by the Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation. A winner and finalists will be announced May 17 with an award ceremony at the May 25 meeting of the WS/FCS Board of Education.