CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF CREATIVITY

As this year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on the progress we've made and envision the future we’re building together at the Nebraska Writers Collective (NWC).

This year, we're celebrating our 15th anniversary, a milestone made possible by your unwavering belief in the transformative power of words. Today, we're thrilled to share our first-ever Impact Report, a testament to the stories we've amplified and lives we've touched over the years.

• In October, our Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate, Aliyah American Horse, kicked-off the Women's Fund luncheon featuring Geena Davis, a momentous occasion highlighting our state's brilliant talent.

• A generous donation helped us launch the inaugural and free-to-enter Kate Sommer Memorial Poetry Prize, awarding a Nebraska writer with $1,000 for their creative work. That same donation has helped expand the NWC Press, so that both teen and incarcerated writers have the opportunity to be published, ensuring those who are most systemically marginalized are centered and celebrated.

• With our All Writes Reserved (AWR) festival on the horizon, we are preparing to welcome another 30+ teams of youth poets, including new groups from southwest Iowa, to stages across the state. This annual event is a beautiful testament to our community's unity, creativity, and spirit.

As we reflect on our journey, we also eagerly look forward to what's ahead. We have ambitious plans for the future, and we need your support to bring them to fruition. We're inviting you to make a donation today and join other NWC supporters in fostering creativity, promoting literacy, and amplifying stories that deserve not just to be heard, but heralded.

We could not sustain this community without you - thank you!

Gratefully,

Zedeka Poindexter & Gina Tranisi, Co-Executive Directors

Pictured above is Isabella Mitchell, a member of the 2023 AWR champion team, Omaha Central High School and 2022 Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Runner-Up. This fall, Isabella was a featured reader at our event with National Youth Poet Laureate, Salome Agbaroji. We believe her story is a beautiful example of the arts in action and a testament to the power of poetry.