written by Isabelle Karpin, Summer Foundation Intern
For more than twenty years, Johnson County Library’s teen literary arts magazine elementia has inspired creativity and connection across the community. One of the most meaningful aspects of the program is its teen editorial board, which allows participants to explore the art of publishing and design while working closely with Library staff and peers who share their interests.
This year, elementia celebrated two alumni by publishing their first joint chapbook, featuring poetry collections from Elizabeth Joseph (Earthbound) and Amanda Pendley (Wingspan). Both writers reflected on how elementia shaped their creative journeys and their confidence as artists.
For Elizabeth, elementia was a turning point in finding her voice.
“I have a lot of insecurities about my art. It feels uniquely vulnerable. elementia wasn’t a cure, but it was better. It gave me the tools to become stronger at my craft and more wholly comfortable as a person… elementia is woven into my personhood, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”
Her collection Earthbound explores themes of food, form, and symbolism, continuing the creative path she began as both a writer and editor for elementia.
Amanda discovered elementia in high school, through a visit from then-program director Kate McNair, and credits the magazine for launching her journey as a poet.
“Kate McNair had come into my high school creative writing class and talked about elementia, and thus my journey as a writer began. elementia is a game changer, and I will eternally be an avid supporter of its community and its programming.”
After elementia, Amanda earned her BA from the University of Iowa and her MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Today, she works at Washington University in St. Louis, where she and Elizabeth, now a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy, continue to write and inspire others.
At the release of elementia Issue 22, County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop shared,
“We invite you, and I implore you, to help us keep this momentum going. A gift to the Library Foundation really supports this work as well as other work that the Foundation does. It supports these artists, and it supports this type of bold storytelling. And it is the kind of programming that changes every single life, and brain, and heart that encounters it.”
To explore this year’s theme, “Legacy,” and to read past editions, visit the Library’s teen page.
elementia is one of many programs made possible through support from the Johnson County Library Foundation. In 2024, the Foundation raised more than $409,000 to enhance Library initiatives like elementia and ensure that opportunities for creativity and discovery remain accessible to everyone. To learn more about how your donations make a difference, visit the Johnson County Library Foundation webpage.