The Alma Mae Mack Youth Ink Initiative honors a legacy of pouring into children and recognizing their potential early.

Alma Mae Mack encouraged creativity, confidence, and expression in the people around her. As a child, her son had his first poem published at seven years old because she took his writing seriously and made sure it was seen.

That foundation grew into Washington Avenue Press, the Thought Bubble Series, and this initiative.

Each year, one elementary student in grades 2 through 5 will be selected through a creative writing contest to become a published author. The selected student will release a book under Washington Avenue Press as part of the Thought Bubble Series. The work will be written by the student, credited to the student, and all royalties will belong to them.

The focus is simple. Support young writers. Take their work seriously. Give them the opportunity to see their words in print.

This initiative continues what Alma Mae Mack did naturally by making sure the next generation is seen, heard, and published.