Conroy Center’s Sixth Annual March Forth, Coming March 4-6

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Press Release

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center’s sixth annual March Forth will be held on Friday, March 4th, through Sunday, March 6th. March Forth commemorates the anniversary of bestselling author Pat Conroy’s passing on March 4th, 2016, with programs on major themes of his writing and teaching life, including social justice, inclusivity, conservation, education, and storytelling.

This year’s March Forth will include appearances by acclaimed Gullah artist Jonathan Green (Gullah Spirit); Gullah Geechie Cultural Heritage Corridor executive director Victoria Smalls; author, advocate, and educator Rebecca Hall (Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts); environmentalists J. Drew Lanham (Sparrow Envy) and Janisse Ray (Wild Spectacle); contributing writers to the anthologies The Future of Black: Afrofuturism, Black Comics, and Superhero Poetry and Ukweli: Searching for Healing Truth; and Beaufort High School’s DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization.

March Forth is presented in collaboration with Penn Center, NeverMore Books, the Storybook Shoppe, the Technical College of the Lowcountry, the Port Royal Farmers Market, Beaufort High School’s DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization, and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Event costs range from free to $70/person. Registration is now open at https://marchforth2022.eventbrite.com (through February 22nd for ticketed events on March 4th and 6th, and through March 4th for free events on March 5th).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce (711 Bladen St, Beaufort, SC)

Acclaimed Gullah artist Jonathan Green in Conversation with Victoria Smalls, executive director of the Gullah Geechie Cultural Heritage Corridor

$70 ticketed lunch event: chicken, fish, and vegetarian box lunch options. Limited seating. Masks required during the artists’ conversation. Lunch registration includes an autographed copy of the newly published Gullah Spirit: The Art of Jonathan Green

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 9:00 a.m. to noon

Port Royal Farmers Market (1615 Ribaut Rd, Port Royal, SC)

Teddy Bear Picnic with Beaufort High School’s DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization

FREE read-aloud for K-3rd grade students and their families. Snacks provided. Bring your favorite stuffed animal. Beaufort High students will be reading from a variety of children’s picture books.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Technical College of the Lowcountry, McLean Hall (104 Reynolds St. bldg 12, Beaufort, SC)

FREE author discussions, hosted by DAYLO, with books available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books, featuring: Rebecca Hall, author of the graphic novel Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts, and Len Lawson and Gary Jackson, poets and co-editors of The Future of Black: Afrofuturism, Black Comics, and Superhero Poetry, in conversation with fellow contributing writer Glenis Redmond, a 2022 South Carolina Academy of Authors honoree.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Oyster Factory Park (63 Wharf St., Bluffton, SC)

Paper Bag Princess Day, hosted by the Storybook Shoppe

FREE kid-friendly readings and craft projects inspired by The Paper Bag Princess, written by Robert Munch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko, featuring staff from Bluffton’s children’s bookstore the Storybook Shoppe and student volunteers from Bluffton High School’s Bobcat Readers. Books available for sale.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Penn Center (16 Penn Center E., St. Helena Island, SC)

$10 ticketed nature walk of Penn Center grounds led by naturalists J. Drew Lanham and Janisse Ray, optional catered box lunches by Debbie Covington, and afternoon author panel discussions, with books available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books, featuring: J. Drew Lanham, author of Sparrow Envy and The Home Place; Janisse Ray, author of Wild Spectacle and Ecology of a Cracker Childhood; and Herb Frazier, historian and co-editor of Ukweli: Searching for Healing Truth (in conversation with contributing writers Elizabeth Robin, Jonathan Haupt, Marjory Wentworth, Yvette R. Murray, and Gloria Holmes)

To learn more about the year-round educational mission of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org, or visit the Conroy Center in person at 601 Bladen Street in downtown Beaufort, Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m., or other times by appointment.

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