Black Voices Mixer is a community conversation on the changing landscape of the NC literary and arts communities. This is the inaugural event of #PENWriteNow — yearlong programming of PEN NC Piedmont: a series of community events and conversations on building “collective belonging” in the literary and arts community. The series hopes to identify new opportunities for literary cultural creatives and acknowledges that technology and social media makes it possible for writers to create work that extends beyond the page. Conversation partners for the event are spoken-word artist Ashley Lumpkin, author Krystal Smith, and writer and public artist Johnny Lee Chapman III.
Black Voices Mixer hopes for an honest, intimate conversation about opportunities, barriers, and possibilities of an inclusive and equitable literary community. The larger community is invited to attend and participate in what is hoped will be a “town hall” discussion that centers Black voices and experiences.
PENWriteNow is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Triad Health Project is a proud PENWriteNow community partner.