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
NBA Finalist
Gay Rights Advocate
The New Testament

Mahogany L. Browne

Poet, Performer & Activist
YA & Children's Author
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

Bestselling Memoirist
Award-winning Poet
Homelessness & Addiction
Film, Art & Music Hybridity

Carolyn Forché

NBA Finalist
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

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

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

Juan Gabriel Vásquez

NYT Bestselling Novelist
Columbian Journalist
Acclaimed Translator
Int'l IMPAC Dublin Award

Javier Zamora

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

Raúl Zurita

Acclaimed Chilean Poet
Poems: Purgatory