Building African American Minds, Inc. (BAAM), in partnership with Shore Lit, Maryland Humanities, and the Talbot County Free Library, is proud to host celebrated journalist, cultural critic, and author Lawrence Burney on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the BAAM Campus in Easton.
Burney, author of the debut essay collection No Sense in Wishing (Simon & Schuster), the official 2026 One Maryland One Book selection, will lead an interactive youth creative writing workshop in the afternoon, followed by a free public book talk and community celebration in the evening.
At BAAM, we believe in empowering our youth by celebrating heritage, culture, and self-expression. Bringing a premier Maryland author to our campus provides a powerful platform for our students and neighbors to explore how place, music, and community shape our stories.
Schedule of Events | Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Youth Creative Writing Workshop
Middle and High School Students
Time: 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: BAAM Academic Center, 31 Jowite St., Easton, MD
Cost: Free. Registration required.
Chick-fil-A will be provided at the start of the workshop.
Led by Lawrence Burney, middle and high school participants will engage in “close listening” to lyrics by iconic artists including Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and GoldLink. Paying close attention to how these artists describe coming of age in their hometowns, students will write original creative pieces reflecting their own experiences growing up on the Eastern Shore.
- Author Book Talk, Musical Performance & Book Signing
Time: 5:00 PM–7:00 PM
5:15 PM: Live opening musical performance by Friends in Faith Gospel Group
5:30 PM: Author Conversation & Q&A
6:30 PM: Book Signing
Location: BAAM Athletic Center, 21 Jowite St., Easton, MD
Cost: Free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated but not required.
Burney will discuss No Sense in Wishing, which explores music, art, and Black liberation across Maryland, in conversation with broadcast journalist and Emmy Award-winning video producer Alana Yzola-Daly. Books will be available for purchase on-site courtesy of Book Hounds.
About the Author
Lawrence Burney is a writer, critic, and founder of True Laurels, an independent publication covering Baltimore’s music and cultural landscape. His work has appeared in New York Magazine, GQ, Pitchfork, The Fader, VICE, and The Baltimore Banner. No Sense in Wishing is his first book.
One Maryland One Book is sponsored by Maryland Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Maryland State Library Agency, National Endowment for the Humanities, Baker Foundation, BGE, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, and the Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences.
