2026 North Carolina Readers Association Conference

At the 2026 North Carolina Readers Association Conference, educator and arts advocate LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens leads Empower Voice with Storytelling, a dynamic workshop designed with teachers in mind. This interactive session equips educators with practical storytelling strategies to help students develop confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and express their lived experiences through authentic narrative. Drawing from spoken word, creative writing, and classroom-tested engagement techniques, El’Ja models approaches teachers can immediately adapt for diverse learning environments. Participants will leave with tools to foster student voice, build inclusive classroom communities, and use storytelling as a powerful pathway to deeper reading, writing, and connection.