Jackson State University

Founded by MacArthur Fellow Kiese Laymon, the Catherine Coleman Literary Arts, Food, and Justice Initiative provides avenues for emerging writers across the state of Mississippi and in the City of Jackson to engage the rich legacy of creative writing in Mississippi, the tradition of southern foodways, and the history of social justice movements in their communities. Named in honor of Laymon's grandmother, the Coleman Initiative consists of writing seminars and programming, coordinated by the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State, through which young people will hone their skills as readers and writers while learning the techniques of revision essential in expressing their voices through the written word.