Mission Statement
HP LitFest strives to inspire and encourage students, teachers, and the community to celebrate language in its artfully written, spoken, and sung forms. We believe literary writing offers unique insight into the articulation of human experience and has its value not only in the story that it tells, but also in how the story is told. The annual festival showcases and provides access to professional writers who offer substantive artistic content and inspiration to our school district community.
History
In 1995, the Highland Park Literary Festival was born from a collaboration between interested parents and the English Department of Highland Park High School in Dallas. The HP LitFest is categorized as a 501(c)3 organization, and tax deductible contributions are greatly appreciated.
At the heart of the festival are over 75 workshops between students and accomplished novelists, journalists, poets, songwriters, and playwrights. Also, at a student-run open-mic night, students perform their own works. A writing contest and special awards breakfast recognizes outstanding student works of poetry, fiction, and narrative non-fiction.
Finally, the festival offers a free public keynote speaking event of reading and conversation.
The HP LitFest is made possible with the cooperation of the HPHS English faculty and by generous donations from La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, HP Arts, PC-TAG, HPHS PTA, HPISD families and Barbara Hunt Crow.
Board of Directors, 2022-2023
Executive Commitee
- Kyle Huckaby (co-chair)
- Renne Lokey (co-chair)
- Carrie Jewell (treasurer)
- Ashley Blanchette (secretary)
- Margaret Lesesne (parliamentarian)
- TBA (publicity)
- Christina Bell (hs workshop co-chair)
- Rachel Wallace (hs workshop co-chair)
Committee
- Caroline Trotman (awards breakfast and hospitality co-chair)
- Allyn Waid (awards breakfast and hospitality co-chair)
- Haley DeVault (book sales)
- Julie Melihercik (book sales)
- Katharine Friguletto (community event)
- Suzie Forsberg (elementary school liaison)
- Jane Wallingford (elementary school liaison)
- Laurie Martin (flick fest)
- Kortney Nelson (historian)
- Dana Manley (member at large)
- TBD (middle school liason)
- Carrie Hamilton (open mic night co-chair)
- Julie Nance (open mic night co-chair)
- Julie Parolisi (parent book club liason)
- Chris Palmer (presenter dinner chair)
- Lane Clark (registrar)
- Laurie Martin (volunteer co-chair)
- Jennifer Murray (volunteer co-chair)
- Julie Lin (webmaster)
Faculty Advisors
- Kimberly Pinkham
- Rachel Pullen