Up From the Roots: Seattle

The foothills of the Appalachian Mountains have bred a wide range of wordsmiths and activists including Wendell Berry, bell hooks, and the legendary Hunter S. Thompson- to name a few.

Kentucky, in particular, has deep roots in literature despite the narrow views and stereotypes for which it’s known around the globe. For those of you that may not know, it’s also where I grew up. By teenage-hood, however, I’d set my sights on northwesterly terrain. For me, Seattle was the ultimate dream. A kind of Promised Land where the grass would be greener, the creative culture richer, and the sociological atmosphere much less conservative.

This week marks the year anniversary on which that dream became my reality.

Now, as an official resident of The Emerald City, I’ve found more creative opportunities and events than I could ever have imagined. It is here that the official Prose Headquarters are situated and where I’ve worked hard to build a life and a new home. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful.

You may remember our blog post from earlier this year in which we shared information about Seattle’s campaign bid for UNESCO “Creative Cities” certification as an international City of Literature.

A bit of background on the campaign:

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) launched its Creative Cities Network in 2004 with the aim of "fostering international cooperation between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and enhanced influence of culture in the world."

The network covers seven thematic areas: Craft and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Media Arts, Music, and Literature.

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Look for the complete article by Prose's community director, media co-director, and admin-editor Maggie Greene (@MaggieGreene) later today on The Official Prose. Blog at: blog.theprose.com/blog.