WS Chronicle

(pictured above:  (Top, from left) Greg Tahtinen (musician), Willie Holmes (mentor) and Artistic Director Nathan Ross Freeman poses with Authoring Action teens (middle row, from left) Tony Jenkins, Atigre Farmer, Justin Maxwell, Olivia Phillips, Nonnie Egbuna (bottom row) Terrance Nivens, Caitlin Thomas, Aydin Thomas and Christian Rhoney.)

Authoring Action will hold its 5th Annual “Taste of the South” fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 Spruce St.

For the price of admission ($50 in advance or $60 at the door) attendees will sip wines, handcrafted beer and other beverages from Hoots Roller Bar, Divine Llama Vineyards, Krankies Coffee, Raffaldini Vineyards, Sunshine Ginger Berry and McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks and enjoy Southern cuisine from Bib’s Downtown, Camino Bakery, Dewey’s Bakery, Finnigan’s Wake, J. Peppers Southern Grille, Jeffrey Adams, Johanne’s Bethabara Tavern, Spring House, Sweet Potatoes and Black Mountain Chocolate.

The event also features a silent auction, raffle and live music by singer/songwriter Dan Dockery, whose soulful jazz, blues and folk music has made him one of the area’s hottest artists. Smitty’s Notes’ Jeff “Smitty” Smith and Milton Rhodes, the former CEO of the Arts Council, are serving as honorary co-chairs for this year’s event.

Authoring Action is a nonprofit arts and education outreach organization dedicated to developing young people as authors and articulate advocates for social change. Its offerings include a summer program where teens begin with journaling and writing and use this material to develop sophisticated spoken word essays, songs, raps, musical compositions and dance pieces that they present live at the end of the summer.

Throughout the year, Authoring Action teens continue to develop strong skills in creative writing and spoken word through participation in its Afterschool Advanced Writing workshops, which are held two days each week. Authoring Action students become well known for the power of their work and are invited to engage in community events and education conferences and to perform at middle and high schools throughout the Southeast.

For more information, visit http://authoringaction.org.