How it works.
We believe in the power of diverse stories; in the necessity of diverse voices in the literary and publishing world. Diversity is not supplemental to our mission; it is the lens with which we operate everything we do.
To support writers of color, we design inclusive and rigorous programs to help them learn about the craft of writing; we bring together professionals from the publishing world to share their experiences; we provide writers with tools and resources to continue to grow in their field.
We champion diverse voices; diverse storytelling modes; reading with compassion rather than criticism; conducting workshops with empathy and vulnerability; drawing on alternative literary canons; developing discerning and inquisitive thinkers and writers who continue to inform our learning and growing in what we do, and who we are as an organization that advocates for writers and artists of color.
Our impact.
Anaphora Founding Fellows with speaker Roxane Gay, 2018.
Our speakers are prize-winning, brilliant writers from diverse cultural backgrounds, upbringing and world-views at the forefront of their fields. They teach poetry, fiction, non-fiction, hybrid work, new genre, multi-genre, editing, publishing, criticism, pedagogy, and more. They are novelists, poets, essayists, screenwriters, playwrtiers, activist, and cultural shakers. They are Pulitzer Prize winners; Emmy winners; Pushcart Prize winners; Forward Prize winners; Hurston/Wright Legacy Award winners; poet laureates; discerning literary citizens; and fierce advocates of emerging writers of color, always giving with abandon.
Our participants are writers of color at different stages in their writing careers, coming together in community to learn in an inclusive, nurturing and supportive environment.
90% of our program participants receive financial assistance through fellowships to attend programs; about 30% of Anaphora’s Fellows continue to come back to grow in their learning and their craft.
Each year, we continue our outreach to writers of color to better understand their evolving needs, and inform our program offerings.
Support writers of color today.
Anaphora Fellows with speakers Kwame Dawes and Natashia Deón, 2021.
Anaphora is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of individual donations to sustain programming, and provide fellowships for writers of color. Consider making a donation today to support writers and artists of color.