KWELI
SPRING CONFERENCE & SUMMER FESTIVAL
International Literary Festival
The 2024 Kweli International Literary Festival will be held from July 13 - September 13. The hybrid festival will feature virtual and in-person readings and conversations with debut and award-winning BIPOC writers, master classes, craft talks, and much more, as well as the year’s best opportunity to connect with agents, editors, and fellow creatives of color during the opening weekend of the festival and throughout the entire summer. Join us for Festival Opening Weekend on SATURDAY, JULY 13 - SUNDAY, JULY 14, in-person at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. Wait until you see what we have in store for #KweliLitFest24.
Color of Children’s Literature Conference
April 19, 2024 - April 21, 2024 was an incredible weekend with top editors, agents, authors and illustrators in the children's book publishing world. Our spring conference was an excellent opportunity for BIPOC writers and illustrators to learn, get inspired and network with others in the industry. Newbery award winner Jerry Craft met New Kid’s future editor, Andrew Eliopulos, at our #Kweli16 conference, and Printz Award winner Angeline Boulley met Tiffany Liao, the future editor of Firekeeper's Daughter, at #Kweli19. And word is a few writers met their future editor at #Kweli24!
Kweli means truth in Swahili. We seek out and support the work of BIPOC writers that “sing the truth.” With a quarterly online journal, NYC-based and webinar workshops, year-long fellowships, individualized editing, public readings, an annual writers' conference and international festival, Kweli invests in the artistic and professional growth of underrepresented writers, nationally and internationally. If our work resonates with you, we hope you will consider a donation.
