Social Justice | Human Rights

Chris Abani

NYT Bestselling Novelist
Nigerian-born Poet
PEN Freedom to Write

Peter Balakian

Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet
Memoir: Black Dog of Fate
Memoir: Armenian Golgoth
Essays on Social Thought

Daniel Borzutzky

Award-winning Poet
National Book Award
Translator from Spanish
Immigration Politics

Jericho Brown

Acclaimed Poet
American Book Award
Gay Rights Advocate
The New Testament

Mahogany L. Browne

Spoken Word Poet
YA & Children's Author
Performer & Activist
Black Girl Magic

Tina Chang

Acclaimed American Poet
Brooklyn Poet Laureate
Literacy & Education
Race, Culture, Identity

Bryan Doerries

Social Impact Theater
Graphic: The Odyssey of...
Translator of Ancient Greek
FYE: The Theater of War

Andre Dubus III

#1 NYT Bestselling Novelist
House of Sand and Fog
Poverty & Violence Issues
Katja Esson

Katja Esson

Documentary Filmmaker
Cantineros de Cuba
Poetry of Resilience
Skydancer (Mohawk Life)

Bernardine Evaristo

Award-winning Novelist
Booker Prize Winner
Activist for Inclusion

Nick Flynn

Acclaimed Poet & Memoirist
Poetry: My Feelings
Film: Being Flynn
Memoir: Another Bullshit...

Carolyn Forché

Award-winning Poet
Poetry of Witness
Human Rights Advocate
Translator: Claribel Alegria

Aminatta Forna

Award-winning Novelist
Acclaimed Memoirist
Issues of War and Peace
The Memory of Love
Josh Fox

Josh Fox

Director of Gasland Films
How to Let Go & Love
LennonOno Peace Award
Experimental Theater

John Freeman

Cultural Critic
Acclaimed Essayist
Editor of Freeman's
Poet: Maps

Sara Gruen

NYT Bestselling Novelist
Water for Elephants
Animal Rights Advocate
Keynote Speaker

Juan Felipe Herrera

US Poet Laureate (2015-17)
Performer & Activist
Children's & YA Books

Brenda Hillman

Acclaimed Poet
Griffin Poetry Prize
Environmental Advocate
Non-Violent Activist

Li-Young Lee

Chinese American Poet
Poetry of Resilience
Poems: Behind My Eyes
Themes: Faith & Exile

Hisham Matar

Pulitzer Prize for Memoir
Acclaimed Libyan Novelist
Issues of Exile
Fathers and Sons

Rajiv Mohabir

Indo-Carribbean Author
Award-winning Poet
Essayist & Translator
LGBTQ Issues

Valzhyna Mort

Acclaimed Belarusian Poet
Translator of Slavic
Collected Body
Factory of Tears

Okey Ndibe

Nigerian American Author
Novels, Memoir, Essays
Commentator & Humorist
Issues of Immigration

Ladan Osman

Somali-born Poet
Essays on Race
Issues of Immigration
Gender & Displacement

Alicia Ostriker

Distinguished Poet
Jewish Book Award
Poetry & Spirituality
Poetry & Politics

Patrick Phillips

Poet & Nonfiction Writer
Nat'l Book Award Finalist
Award-winning Translator
FYE: Blood at the Root

Ernesto Quiñonez

Acclaimed Novelist
Bodega Dreams
Oral Storyteller
Latino Trendsetter Award

Claudia Rankine

Poet & Playwright
NYT Nonfiction Bestseller
NBCCA & Forward Prize
FYE: Citizen

Vaddey Ratner

NYT Bestselling Novelist
Khmer Rouge Survivor
Refugee and Exile Issues
FYE: Shadow of the Banyon

Natasha Trethewey

Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet
United States Poet Laureate (2012-2014)
FYE: Native Guard

Brian Turner

Acclaimed Soldier-Poet
Memoirist & Essayist

Crystal Valentine

Poet, Educator & Activist
Nat’l Poetry Slam Finalist
Queer Intersectionality
NYC Youth Poet Laureate

Javier Zamora

Salvadoran Poet
The Migrant Experience
Themes: Exile & Refugees
Poems: Unaccompanied

Raúl Zurita

Acclaimed Chilean Poet
Poems: Purgatory