Kweli Journal

03/06/2025

registration is now OPEN!

🎟️ REGISTER on our website 👇🏿👇🏾👇🏽

https://www.kwelijournal.org/2025-childrens-literature-conference

Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference 2025 is a three-day-long, in-person program that will be held FRIDAY, APRIL 4 - SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2025 at The City University of New York Graduate Center & teacherscollege NYC!

The conference is designed to help emerging writers & illustrators of color hone their craft, introduce them to established authors willing to share their expertise, and connect them with editors, agents and publishers who can introduce their art to the world.

Over the years, dozens of writers and illustrators—including Angeline Boulley, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Jerry Craft, London Ladd, Emeline Lee, Laura Obuobi, & Andrea L. Rogers—met their agents or editors or collaborators at Kweli.

It’s always our aim that our conference is YOUR opportunity to do the same!

This year’s conference theme is COMMUNITY. We’re celebrating community care, community love & the healing power of our art & storytelling. We took the time to build a timely program tailored to meet the challenges & possibilities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) emerging artists, led by some of the most celebrated & beloved authors & illustrators & publishing professionals of color working today.

The program includes keynote presentations by Erin Entrada Kelly (two-time Newbery Medalist), Vashti Harrison (Caldecott Medalist), debut authors & Kweli alumna, Ariel Vanece and Arlene Elizabeth Casimir, as well as …

Presentation, “Notes From an Art Director” led by Jasmin Rubero

Culture & Community Panel, “Afrofuturism” with John Jennings in conversation with Brittany N. Williams

The Narrative Arc in Picture Books with Andrea L. Rogers and Cozbi A. Cabrera

Music Biography with Traci N. Todd & Rhonda Roumani; moderated by Aida Salazar

A special event w/ visionaries Alexander Smalls & Denene Millner

Masterclasses, Workshops & Panels

A special event w/ multi-hyphenate, award winning author Jacqueline Woodson + MUSIC

+ FREE month-long writing workshops from April to September

REGISTER on our website 👇🏿👇🏾👇🏽

https://www.kwelijournal.org/2025-childrens-literature-conference

🔄 Lit fam, please SHARE to get the word out! Or TAG an emerging/aspiring writer or illustrator of color in the comments.

We can’t wait to see y’all at !

02/28/2025

⏰ There’s still time to join us TONIGHT, FEB 28, for this convo with Autumn Allen, Senior Editor at Barefoot Books, author Kobina Commeh, and illustrator Bárbara Quintino.

This pre-conference event for our 2025 Color of Children's Literature Conference is FREE and OPEN to ALL.

REGISTER via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89922352049?pwd=9yHkbVKjGL1BOb3Z6gM7F98WGJ9Xlp.1

02/26/2025

⏰ There's still time to join us for this FREE event featuring author Mahogany L. Browne in conversation with Phoebe Yeh, VP and Editor-at-Large at Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books!

Join us TOMORROW, FEB 27, on Zoom via the link!

REGISTER:

👉🏿 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uaUtN2aJSwqiAjUfPawycA #/registration

02/25/2025

DON’T MISS these events coming up this week as part of our 2025 Color of Children’s Literature Conference !


📌 This THURSDAY, FEB 27, join us for a necessary and inspiring conversation w/ internationally acclaimed writer and organizer, Mahogany L. Browne mobrowne, and her publisher, Vice President of Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books, Phoebe Yeh!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

REGISTER
👉🏿 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uaUtN2aJSwqiAjUfPawycA #/registration


These days, we’re leaning into our community more than ever. For our next 2025 Color of Children’s Literature Conference pre-conference event, come hear from Mahogany L. Browne and Phoebe Yeh, two literary professionals who have grown and sustained the pivotal landscape of children’s writing for and by writers of color.

Browne is a writer, playwright, organizer, & educator. Her works include acclaimed YA novel-in-verse, CHLORINE SKY, and her forthcoming work of art, A BIRD IN THE AIR MEANS WE CAN STILL BREATHE, out on March 11. In this poignant book, teen characters, their families, and their communities grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst fear and loss, these New York City teens prevail with love, resilience and hope. Mahogany is a Kennedy Center Next 50 fellow, and Lincoln Center’s inaugural poet-in-residence.

Phoebe Yeh is the VP and co-publisher of Crown Books For Young Readers who has published some of the most acclaimed books in children’s literature, including groundbreaking works by writers of color: NYT bestsellers DEAR JUSTYCE, DEAR MARTIN by Nic Stone; WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES and THE TALK edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson.

She’s also the publisher of Mahogany’s CHLORINE SKY, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “a coming-of-age novel for Black girls who have been told they’re too much and yet never enough”—no doubt a feeling many writers of color recognize!

Come join us for craft convo, publishing advice, and community this Thursday evening. SHARE with your kid lit writer community, particularly aspiring children’s book writers of color—we need your voices!

📌 On FRIDAY, FEB 28, join us for an uplifting and inspirational conversation with debut author Kobina Commeh, illustrator Bárbara Quintino and Autumn Allen, senior editor at Barefoot Books, as we lean into history, West African culture AND MORE. (Juliana Ravelli will be the translator for Bárbara Quintino.)

This event is FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

REGISTER:
👉🏿 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k3-MGZ6tRbS1FiXsMxPwcg

Kobina Commeh is a new swimmer who is excited to share his debut picture book KWESI AND NANA RUBY LEARN TO SWIM to inspire others. He works as a foot doctor and so being published by Barefoot Books opens up a world of puns. Heel (He’ll) leave the jokes up to you though. Kobina lives with his two daughters and wife in California.

Bárbara Quintino is an illustrator from Minas Gerais, Brazil, and passionate about pão de queijo or cheese bread. She took to the universe of colors and textures when she was a little girl, together with her stepfather—colored pencils, paper and crayons could be found all over the house.

Autumn Allen is a senior editor at Barefoot Books, where she acquires, edits, and art-directs picture books and board books. Her debut young adult novel, All You Have to Do, was a Black Caucus of the ALA debut honor award winner and was long listed for the Massachusetts Book Award. Her picture books, Step On Board: Sculpting a Memorial to Harriet Tubman, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, and Answered Prayers, illustrated by Charly Palmer, are forthcoming from Knopf.

02/20/2025

Writers of color, JOIN US for the next cycle of The Art of the Short Story Workshop!

REGISTER on our website:
👉🏿 https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-march-2025

Kweli’s comprehensive six-week intensive for short story writers and novelists of color with Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Laura Pegram, features in-class writing exercises, close study of acclaimed works by authors, detailed peer review, and in-depth instructor feedback.

Most importantly, the workshop offers a safer space for all people of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, Latine, and LGBTQIA+ writers at all levels to write, learn, and gather.

Read what past workshop participants have to say about the experience, including a January workshop attendee whose debut story will be featured in our forthcoming February issue!

🗓️ DATES: 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7
🕰️ TIME: 6:30PM EST - 8:30PM EST
👩🏾‍💻 FORMAT: Online

REGISTER
👉🏿 https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-march-2025

Lit fam, please SHARE to get the word out to your people who need to gather more than ever this year.

02/19/2025

This , we're reading through our favorite poems and stories of Black resistance in our archives.

Here's "INVOCATION AT THE SCHOMBURG," a poem by Kassy Lee.

READ now at Kweli Journal →

On the terrazzo floor, I cupid-shuffle with a friend / who, when I was young, fed me mooncakes / while I spent mid-autumn, in-patient psychiatry, / just down Amsterdam Avenue, from where, / now, on your ashes, Langston, we dance.

02/18/2025

This , we're reading through our favorite poems and stories of Black resistance in our archives.

Here's "A Creased Page from a Plantation Ledger," a poem by Artress Bethany White.

READ now at Kweli Journal →

When the prices lower / to $100 or so, I see old age. Pleasant $325 / is named like an epiphany. Citizen $600, / a bad joke or history’s irony. / Sam $650, Lizzy $600, and Aggy $650 / suddenly proclaim gender equity.

01/30/2025

👩🏾‍💻 Join us TONIGHT!

Our Color of Children's Literature Conference kicks off tonight, JAN 30th, with a Pre-Conference Event on Zoom featuring National Book Award Winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi + Putnam Publishing Director Rūta Rimas.

📩 FREE + OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP to [email protected]

01/29/2025

⏰ There’s still time to join us TOMORROW!

Our 2025 Color of Children's Literature Conference kicks off Thursday, JAN 30th, with an online Pre-Conference Event featuring National Book Award Winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi, author of KAREEM BETWEEN, + Putnam Young Readers Publishing Director Rūta Rimas!

📩 FREE + OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP to [email protected]

Sponsored by The Racial Literacy Project at Teachers College, Columbia University.


ALT TEXT: Program announcement for Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference featuring photos of publishing executive Rūta Rimas and award-winning author Shifa Saltagi Safadi. Text: 2025 Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Pre-Conference Event. Rūta Rimas, Senior Executive Editor & Publishing Director, Putnam Young Readers, in conversation with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, National Book Award Winner. 7PM EST on Thursday, Jan 30th via Zoom, Free and open to the public. Kwelijournal.org .

01/28/2025

🎉 We’re thrilled that the newly announced 2025 NEWBERY MEDAL winner, Erin Entrada Kelly, will be a Keynote Speaker at Kweli’s Color of Children’s Literature Conference , April 4-6, 2025, in New York City!

Erin’s keynote talk will focus on finding sanctuary.

The conference will be held at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is sponsored by The Racial Literacy project.

ALT TEXT:
First IMAGE: Erin Entrada Kelly
Keynote Speaker
Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference
April 4-6, 2025
kwelijournal.org

SECOND IMAGE: 2025 Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference
SAVE THE DATE
Friday, April 4th | Saturday, April 5th | Sunday, April 6th.
Artwork: Backs of several Black and brown girls with arms around each other facing a large ocean wave

Artwork by Cozbi A. Cabrera from BROWN GIRL, BROWN GIRL by Leslé Honoré

01/21/2025

📌SAVE THE DATE!

Our Color of Children's Literature Conference kicks off JAN 30 with a Pre-Conference Event featuring National Book Award Winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi, author of KAREEM BETWEEN, + Putnam Young Readers Publishing Director Rūta Rimas!

📩 FREE + OPEN TO ALL w/ RSVP to [email protected]

ALT TEXT: Program announcement for Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference featuring photos of publishing executive Rūta Rimas and award-winning author Shifa Saltagi Safadi. Text: 2025 Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Pre-Conference Event. Rūta Rimas, Senior Executive Editor & Publishing Director, Putnam Young Readers, in conversation with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, National Book Award Winner. 7PM EST on Thursday, Jan 30th via Zoom, Free and open to the public. Kwelijournal.org . Sponsored by The Racial Literacy Project at Teachers College, Columbia University.

01/14/2025

Writers of color, JOIN US for the next cycle of The Art of the Short Story Workshop! There’s still time to start the new year with sharper storytelling skills and a community of like-minded people behind you!

REGISTER on our website:
👉🏿 https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-30-2025

Kweli’s comprehensive six-week intensive for short story writers and novelists of color with Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Laura Pegram, features in-class writing exercises, close study of acclaimed works by authors, detailed peer review, and in-depth instructor feedback.

Most importantly, the workshop offers a safer space for all people of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, and Latine writers at all levels to write, learn, and gather.

SWIPE to read what past workshop participants have to say about the experience.

🗓️ DATES: 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
🕰️ TIME: 6:30PM EST - 8:30PM EST
👩🏾‍💻 FORMAT: Online

REGISTER
👉🏿 https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-30-2025

Lit fam, please SHARE to get the word out to your people who need to gather more than ever in the new year.

01/07/2025

🎉 Starts TODAY!

writers, join us for the first 2025 cycle of The Art of the Short Story Workshop and start the new year with sharper storytelling skills and a community of like-minded people behind you!

👉🏿 REGISTER: https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-2025

Kweli’s comprehensive six-week intensive for short story writers and novelists of color with Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Laura Pegram, features in-class writing exercises, close study of acclaimed works by authors, detailed peer review, and in-depth instructor feedback.

Most importantly, the workshop offers a safer space for all people of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, and Latine writers at all levels to write, learn, and gather.

SWIPE to read what past workshop participants have to say about the experience.

🗓️ DATES: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11
🕰️ TIME: 6:30PM EST - 8:30PM EST
👩🏾‍💻 FORMAT: Online

REGISTER on our website 👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿
https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-2025

Lit fam, please SHARE to get the word out to your people who need to gather more than ever in the new year!

01/02/2025

⏰There's still time to join us NEXT WEEK!

Part writing bootcamp, part in-depth craft analysis class, The Art of the Short Story Workshop is a six-week online intensive for writers of adult fiction, led by Kweli Journal Founding Editor/Publisher Laura Pegram.

LEARN MORE➤ https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-2025

12/19/2024

🎉 Writers of color, JOIN US for the first 2025 cycle of The Art of the Short Story Workshop and start the new year with sharper storytelling skills and a community of like-minded people behind you!

👉🏿 REGISTER: https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-2025

Kweli’s comprehensive six-week intensive for short story writers and novelists of color with Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Laura Pegram, features in-class writing exercises, close study of acclaimed works by authors, detailed peer review, and in-depth instructor feedback.

Most importantly, the workshop offers a safer space for all people of color, including Black, Indigenous, SWANA, AAPI, and Latine writers at all levels to write, learn, and gather.

SWIPE to read what past workshop participants have to say about the experience.

🗓️ DATES: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11
🕰️ TIME: 6:30PM EST - 8:30PM EST
👩🏾‍💻 FORMAT: Online

REGISTER on our website 👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿
https://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-january-2025

Lit fam, please SHARE to get the word out to your people who need to gather more than ever in the new year!

12/10/2024

LAST CHANCE!

As the year wraps, don’t miss out on the current issue of Kweli Journal.

It's been our honor to publish and showcase writers the world so deeply needs right now. Read the current issue before our final issue of the year drops!

👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿http://kwelijournal.org/currentissue

ART: “Clymenza” by Lisa Teasley (lisateas)

FICTION
"Love Is Out of Choice" by Iman Adam
“Leon Abramovich Runs the Mile” by Josie Abugov (josiieabugov)

NONFICTION
“Tomorrow’s Forests” by Mubanga Kalimamukwento

POETRY
“Sunlight” by Alexis Pauline Gumbs (Alexis Pauline Gumbs)
“Nearly 5000” by Raina León (Raina León)

12/06/2024

🎉 Make 2025 the year you write your novel.

JOIN US for an online Master Class, Saturday, December 7, 1-4PM EST, with award-winning debut novelist, Alejandro Heredia, to get started ahead of the new year.

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽 https://www.kwelijournal.org/starting-a-novel-master-class-with-alejandro-heredia-december-2024


⚡️INSTRUCTOR BIO

Alejandro Heredia is a writer from The Bronx. He has received fellowships from LAMBDA Literary, Dominican Studies Institute, UNLV’s Black Mountain Institute, and elsewhere. He received an MFA from Hunter College. His debut novel LOCA will be out February 2025 from Simon & Schuster.

It has been our privilege to witness and support Alejandro’s writing career from emerging writer to soon-to-be debut novelist—it is our goal that this class and other Kweli programs can be a similar stepping stone for you.

👉🏾 SWIPE to learn more about Alejandro’s Kweli journey, and join us THIS Saturday.

Register on our website (link above) and SHARE to let your people know!