literary Organizations that serve writers of color
At Kundiman, we deeply believe in the importance of cross community solidarity and working with other organizations that serve communities of color. If you would like to add an organization to this list, please email info@kundiman.org.
The Asian American Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations through resource sharing, promotion, and community building.
The Asian American Literary Review is a space for writers who consider the designation “Asian American” a fruitful starting point for artistic vision and community. In showcasing the work of established and emerging writers, the journal aims to incubate dialogues and, just as importantly, open those dialogues to regional, national, and international audiences of all constituencies.
The Asian American Writers’ Workshop (AAWW) is devoted to creating, publishing, developing and disseminating creative writing by Asian Americans, and to providing an alternative literary arts space at the intersection of migration, race, and social justice.
The Asian Author Alliance celebrates Asian Kidlit and the diversity of stories that originate from the Asian Continent.
Bamboo Ridge Press was founded in 1978 to publish literature by and about Hawaii's people. It currently publishes two volumes a year: a literary journal of poetry and fiction featuring work by both emerging and established writers and a book by a single author or an anthology focused on a special theme.
Black Women Radicals is a Black feminist advocacy organization dedicated to empowering Black women and gender expansive activists and centering their contributions to Black Politics in Africa and in the African Diaspora.
Callaloo is the premier literary and cultural journal of the African Diaspora. Its central purposes are to provide a publication outlet, in English or English translations, for new, emerging, and established creative writers who produce texts in different languages in the African Diaspora; and to serve as a forum for literary and cultural critics who write about the literature and culture of the African Diaspora.
CantoMundo is an American literary organization founded in 2009 to support Latino poets and poetry. It hosts an annual poetry workshop dedicated to the creation, documentation, and critical analysis of Latinx poetry.
Cave Canem: Founded by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady in 1996 to remedy the under-representation and isolation of African American poets in the literary landscape, Cave Canem Foundation is a home for the many voices of African American poetry and is committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of African American poets.
The Center for African American Poetry and Poetics was founded in 2016. They work to highlight, promote, and share the work of African American and African diasporic poets, and to encourage cross-disciplinary conversation and collaboration through events, a fellowship, a residency program, workshops, and more.
Con Tinta: Chicano/Latino Writers’ Collective believes in affirming a pro-active presence in American literature. They come together in the spirit of intellectual/artistic dialogue and of recognizing our literary/social histories.
Hmong American Writers' Circle’s efforts and achievements have been geared toward the creation of a visible body of Hmong American literature, the establishment of a Hmong literary culture, as well as to provide a nurturing space within a writers' workshop setting for members to dialogue and hone their writing.
The Hurston/Wright Foundation is a literary organization dedicated to discover, mentor, and honor Black writers. They run writing workshops, retreats, literary salons, awards, and craft talks. They also host the podcast The Black Writer’s Studio.
Hyphen Magazine is a news and culture magazine, media outlet and community partner, that illuminates Asian America through hard-hitting investigative features on the cultural and political trends shaping the fastest-growing ethnic population in the country.
Institute of American Indian Arts is a public tribal college in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The college focuses on Native American art. It operates the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), which houses the National Collection of Contemporary Indian Art, with more than 7,000 items.
Kaya Press is a group of dedicated writers, artists, readers, and lovers of books working together to publish the most challenging, thoughtful, and provocative literature being produced throughout the Asian and Pacific Island diasporas.
Kearny Street Workshop: Founded in 1972, during the height of the Asian American cultural movement, Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) is the oldest Asian Pacific American multidisciplinary arts organization in the country. KSW offers classes and workshops, salons, and student presentations, as well as professionally curated and produced exhibitions, performances, readings, and screenings.
Kimbilio is a community of writers and scholars committed to developing, empowering and sustaining fiction writers from the African diaspora and their stories. Projects include readings, presentations at professional conferences, social media networking, and an annual summer retreat for fiction writers who are members of the Kimbilio community.
Kweli Journal is an online journal that nurtures emerging writers of color and creates opportunities for their voices to be recognized and valued. By creating a community and programming based on artistic excellence and rigor, Kweli empowers writers to share stories that engage and impact our communities.
Latinx in Publishing is a network of book professionals committed to supporting and increasing the number of Latino/a/x in the publishing industry, as well as promoting literature by, for, and about Latino/a/x people.
Latinx Writers Caucus meets annually at AWP as the Latino Caucus Panel to discuss issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the US literary community.
Letras Latinas, the literary initiative at the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), strives to enhance the visibility, appreciation and study of Latinx literature both on and off the campus of the University of Notre Dame—with an emphasis on programs that support newer voices, foster a sense of community among writers, and place Latinx writers in community spaces.
Macondo Writers Workshop is an association of socially-engaged master's level writers working to advance creativity, foster generosity, and serve community. Founded in 1995 by writer Sandra Cisneros and named after the town in Gabriel García Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, the workshop gathers writers from all genres who work on geographic, cultural, economic, gender, and spiritual borders.
Mizna is a critical platform for contemporary literature, art, film, and cultural programming centering the work of Southwest Asian and North African artists. For twenty years, they have sought to reflect the depth and multiplicity of our community and have been committed to being a space for Arab, Muslim, and other artists from the region to reclaim our narratives and engage audiences in meaningful and artistically excellent art.
Pacific Tongues is a nonprofit organization that cultivates an active artistic Oceanic community of writers, spoken word performers, leaders, educators and students of all ages. Their commitment is to honor the practice of kuleana through creative workshops, public events and pedagogical development.
ProjectX strengthens the creative and community essence of the Bronx through regular collaborations with artists and organizations. For the past 3 years Project X has hosted over 40 events including poetry slams, open mics, fundraisers, workshops, fashion shows, DJ Battles, and community engagements for, with, and by the Bronx community.
Radius of Arab American Writers is a national organization that provides mentoring, community, and support for Arab American writers and those with roots in the Arabic speaking world and the diaspora. They are a non-profit 501(c)(3) literary organization dedicated to supporting and disseminating creative writing and scholarly writing by Arab Americans and those from the Arabic speaking world–which often means creating space and highlighting voices and people threatened by erasure.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is a migratory museum that brings history, art and culture to you through innovative community-focused experiences. From their establishment in 1997 as an initiative critical to the mission of the Smithsonian until today, the vision for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has been to enrich the American Story with the voices of Asian Pacific Americans.
South Asian Diaspora Artists Collective is a member-led group using art as a tool for resistance, healing, community building, and liberation. The Collective meets regularly to workshop in-progress artwork (of any media); to discuss art, activism, identity, and politics; and to create work and collaborate across disciplines and issues. The collective is dedicated to breaking down barriers that exist within the South Asian and Indo Caribbean diaspora in order to build long-term, sustainable community in solidarity with all communities of color.
South Asian Women's Creative Collective is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to the advancement, visibility, and development of emerging and established South Asian women artists and creative professionals by providing a physical and virtual space to profile their creative and intellectual work across disciplines.
Torch Literary Arts is a literary initiative and nonprofit based in Austin, Texas. They are dedicated to publishing, promoting, and creating advancement opportunities for Black women writers. Each month, they publish features from Black women writers. They also host workshops and events.
Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation is the only multi-genre workshop for writers of color in the U.S. founded by and for writers of color as a revolution. VONA rewrites the literary landscape, creating new aesthetics and narratives. At the intersection of social justice and artistic mastery, VONA builds individual mastery and artistic communities that create new cultural understandings, changing the way individuals and societies perceive themselves.
The Watering Hole is a southern-based vanguard who builds Harlem Renaissance-style spaces in the contemporary South. Their core purpose is to cultivate and inspire kinship between poets of color from all spoken and written traditions, thus creating a tribe with a mutual focus of poetics and craft-building.
Well-Read Black Girl is an online community, organization, and movement amplifying the work of Black women writers. They champion literature as a tool for civic engagement and advocacy. Initiatives that they run include an annual Festival, nationwide in-real-life book clubs, classes, and more.