Atlanta Braves Foundation Announces Black History Month Essay Contest

In partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, the Atlanta Braves will host an essay contest for eighth grade students to commemorate Black History Month. The contest, which launches the week of February 2, will encourage students to research and explore the history of notable African-Americans and further develop their writing skills.

Students can utilize books, articles, and websites about notable African-Americans to assist them in completing a 250-word or less essay on the topic, "What African American do you find to be most inspiring and why?" Students can also visit www.braves.com/aaheritage to learn about the vast contributions of African American players throughout the Braves history. All eighth grade students in Atlanta Public Schools will receive detailed contest information and instructions from their teachers during the first week of February.

The Atlanta Braves Foundation will select five winners and one grand prize recipient. The grand prize winner will receive a visit by the Braves to his/her school, and all six winners will have the opportunity to meet a Braves player, receive two tickets to the Braves vs. Marlins game on April 15 and be recognized during an on-field presentation held in conjunction with the Braves Jackie Robinson Day festivities.

In addition to receiving two complimentary tickets to a Braves game, all students who participate in the contest can bring a copy of his/her essay to the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame at Turner Field and receive free admission and a Turner Field tour during the month of February. In an effort to encourage youth to learn about the many achievements of African Americans in baseball, children 13 and under who read a book about the Negro Leagues, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, or any African American contributors to the sport, will receive complimentary admission to the Braves Museum and a free tour of Turner Field. Students can bring in the book they read or a note with the name and author of the book from their teacher or librarian on school letterhead, Monday-Saturday during Black History Month. Braves Museum promotions apply walk-up tours only.

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Emory Fellow Wins Whiting Writers' Award

Laleh Khadivi, a fellow in Emory University's Creative Writing Program, has received a 2008 Whiting Writers' Award. The $50,000 award, which annually recognizes 10 young writers, was presented to Khadivi yesterday in New York City. (http://www.whitingfoundation.org/whiting_2008.html)

Khadivi was honored for her first book, "The Age of Orphans," a historical novel set in Iran during the first Shah's ascent to power. Born in Esfahan, Iran, Khadivi is of Kurdish and Persian heritage.

"The Age of Orphans" follows the life of a Kurdish boy whose family is killed by the armies of the Shah as part of a "modernizing effort." The boy is then adopted into those same armies and taught to kill his own people.

This first book is part of a trilogy that follows the lives of three generations of Kurdish men and will be published by Bloomsbury in March. "The award gives me more time to work on the triology," says Khadivi, adding that when her teaching stint at Emory ends, she is considering taking a year off to work on the next book.

Khadivi, who has lived in a variety of countries, is a graduate of Atlanta International School and now calls the United States home. Previously, she was a documentary filmmaker and directed "900 Women," a film about incarcerated women in Louisiana. She has produced a number of other films that focus on the criminal justice system.

She holds an undergraduate degree from Reed College and an MFA degree from Mills College. Khadivi is currently the Fellow in Fiction at Emory, a two-year appointment for those holding a graduate degree in creative writing and who have a manuscript underway.

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