Keynote Speaker: Shawn WelcomeBe Part of an Unforgettable Literary ExperienceShawn Welcome at Florida WritersCon 2026We’re excited and honored to introduce Shawn Welcome as our Keynote Speaker for Florida WritersCon 2026. Saturday night of the conference attendees will can enjoy evening of storytelling, connection, and belonging. This keynote event is a mixed media experience consisting of spoken word performances, film, and dialogue. You can expect:
On Friday, Shawn will lead a two-hour craft workshop. About Shawn
An award-winning professional speaker and gifted storyteller, Shawn inspires, educates, and entertains audiences around the world. He has traveled extensively to perform, speak, and facilitate writing and performance workshops, dedicating his life to serving others and amplifying the voices of his community. In 2006, he founded Diverse Word, Central Florida’s longest-running open mic, which continues to provide a platform for creative expression nearly two decades later. This keynote isn’t just someone speaking at you. It’s a voice from within this community—someone who understands the journey and reflects it back with honesty, courage, and vision. Come be part of this unforgettable literary moment. Learn more about Shawn Welcome on his website. Shawn's Documentary Film: WelcomeIn this compelling portrait, Shawn Welcome reflects on the winding path he's taken to becoming Orlando’s first African American poet laureate, the community he’s built along the way, and the incredible power that spoken-word poetry has to change lives. Welcome premiered at the Florida Film Festival on April 11, 2026 and received the "Audience Award for Best Florida Short." It will also be screened at the Sunscreen Film Festival and Southern Fried Poetry Slam Orlando Join UsRegistration for Florida WritersCon 2026 will open in early May 2026. Please keep an eye on our website for more details. Until then, we invite you to participate in the I'm a Florida Writer program and Join the Movement!
|
Shawn Welcome is the co-founder of the Literary Arts Council of Central Florida and the former Poet Laureate for the City of Orlando.