The 40th Annual Printer’s Row Lit Fest Highlights Sanaa Chege for Her Storytelling of Diversity in Water Sports

The Printer’s Row Lit Fest, celebrated as one of the premier literary events in the Midwest, is thrilled to announce that rising youth author Sanaa Chegewill be a highlighted author at the 40th Annual Festival, taking place on September 6th and 7th, 2024 from 10am-6pm, in the heart of Chicago’s historic Printer’s Row district. 

Sanaa, who recently released her children’s book entitled, A Diver Like Me, is known for her captivating storytelling and relatable characters that resonates profoundly with young readers. In her book she discusses her experience in competitive diving where she is often the only person of color competing. She shares how lonely it feels to be a member on a team where there’s no one who truly relates to her background and wishes more people of color would tap into the joy that she’s discovered while diving. After diving deeper into the history of the relationship between water and people of color, Chege, along with her family, also created a nonprofit organization called the Make Waves Foundationwhere they aim to provide resources of water safety for marginalized communities and build more comfortability with water.

“I am truly excited to participate in Printers Row Lit Fest again this year,” says Chege. “Every time I attend, I always leave inspired by the other authors and writers that I meet each year, and I always learn something new. This year I hope that more people will be inspired by my story of diving and leave wanting to try something new!”

The Printer’s Row Lit Fest is free to the public and welcomes thousands of literature lovers from across the country, offering a diverse range of programming that celebrates authors of all genres and backgrounds. With an expected lineup of over 200 authors, panels, and literary activities, this year’s festival promises to be a memorable celebration of the written word.

If by chance, you are unable to meet Sanaa in Chicago, here is a list of other future events where she will also be participating in:

• Kunta Kinte Festival September 13th, Annapolis, MD
• Brooklyn Book FestivalSeptember 20th, Brooklyn NY
• Congressional Black CaucusSeptember 24-26, Washington DC
• Twin Cities Book Festival, November 8, St. Paul, MN
• Miami Book Fair November 21-23, Miami, FL
• HBCU Celebration Swim Meet, December 13th, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

For more information about Sanaa Chege and her book, feel free to visit her website at www.chegecorner.comor follow her on Instagram at @schegediving26.  To learn more about her family’s foundation, The Making Waves Foundation, visit them online at www.makingwavesfoundation.org.

For more information about the festival and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.printersrowlitfest.org. 

About Sanaa Chege

Sanaa B. Chege is not your typical high school student. Hailing from Maryland, Sanaa is a young trailblazer who has been making waves, both in and out of the pool. Her journey into the world of competitive diving began in the fall of 2022, and it’s been nothing short of extraordinary.

When Sanaa isn’t gracefully diving into the water, she’s embracing her passion for travel and cherishing moments spent with family and friends. Yet, her commitment to her community stands out as one of her most remarkable traits. Sanaa finds fulfillment in giving back to her community. She dedicates her time to volunteering at the local Boys & Girls Club and takes an active role in various activities through her Girl Scout Troop. Her pursuit of the prestigious Gold Award exemplifies her determination to create positive change.