PEN Across America
About PEN ACROSS AMERICA
With mounting threats to a free press, breakdowns in civil discourse, and the marginalization of important voices, PEN America has a vital role to play in defending free expression. That’s why we’re engaging PEN America Members and allies across the country to lead efforts to promote informed debate, defend press freedom, engage in literary advocacy, and facilitate dialogue across barriers of all kinds.
Our PEN Across America initiative provides resources to mobilize PEN America communities nationwide to carry forward our mission to defend and celebrate free expression. New chapters in Austin, Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, the Piedmont Region of North Carolina, Tulsa, and elsewhere are organizing public forums to debate critical issues, hosting writers for literary conversations, conducting advocacy campaigns, offering workshops on media literacy, storytelling, and citizen journalism, and much more.
Find an event in your city below. Don’t see one? Apply for funds to defend press freedom or promote literary engagement today! Interested in starting a PEN America chapter in your region? Let us know!
PEN America Chapters
Regional Activity
Alabama
Recent Events
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Pollution, Place, & the People September 28, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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World Press Freedom Day: Birmingham, AL April 28, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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An Evening with Sonia Sanchez April 16, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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A Screening of “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez” April 14, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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In Translation: Reading and Discussion April 10, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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Community Open Mic Poetry Readings April 7, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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Magic City Poetry Festival Kickoff: MLK Day of Remembrance April 4, 2019 Birmingham, AL |
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50 Years Post-MLK: Media, The Magic City, And How The South Was Won April 4, 2018 Birmingham, AL |
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Writers In Community: Birmingham October 20, 2017 Birmingham, AL |
Arizona
Recent Events
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Presentation of “Digna” with Audience Talkback December 10, 2017 Tucson, AZ |
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Writers In Community: Tucson October 10, 2017 Tucson, AZ |
California
Recent Events
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Banned Books Week 2019: From Trauma to Transformation September 27 2019 Sylmar, CA |
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PEN West End of Year Party & World Press Freedom Day Celebration May 11, 2019 Berkeley, CA |
Colorado
Recent Events
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Banned Books Week 2019: Banned Books Week Open Mic September 28, 2019 Denver, CO |
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Colorado Migrahack September 27, 2019 Denver, CO |
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World Press Freedom Day: Denver, CO May 3, 2019 Denver, CO |
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Reporting, Homelessness, and the Public Sphere: An Interactive Community Discussion March 30, 2019 Denver, CO |
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Media Engagement: Engaging Underrepresented Communities in Denver’s New Media Conversation December 7, 2018 Denver, CO |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Denver, CO September 26, 2018 Denver, CO |
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Newsroom Transparency: Panel Discussion April 21, 2018 Denver, CO |
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Who’s Behind the News: Panel Discussion April 21, 2018 Denver, CO |
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Closing Ceremony: Colorado Journalism Week April 21, 2018 Denver, CO |
Florida
Recent Events
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—St. Petersburg, FL September 23, 2019 St. Petersburg, FL |
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On the Page and On the Stage (Storytelling Workshop) May 5 2019 Miami, FL |
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Miami Performs: A Living Memorial For the Victims of the Zong Massacre October 4, 2018 Miami, FL |
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Tributo A Un Bello Idioma October 4, 2018 Miami, FL |
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Representations of Haiti in Literature & Popular Culture March 6, 2018 Miami, FL |
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Kaiama Glover: Analysis of Media Representation of Haiti and Africa March 5, 2018 Miami, FL |
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Local News And Citizen Journalism in Miami April 25, 2018 Miami, FL |
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Speak Freely, Write Boldly: A First Amendment Seminar March 11, 2018 Daytona, FL |
Georgia
Recent Events
Illinois
UPCOMING Events
Recent Events
Indiana
Recent Events
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Undocumented: Great Lakes Poets Laureate on Social Justice |
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Alabama Story September 28, 2018 Indianapolis, IN |
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Break Out: Voices from the Inside—Indianapolis September 10, 2018 Indianapolis, IN |
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In the Balance: Press Freedom & The Public Good in The USA Gymnastics Investigation March 22, 2018 Indianapolis, IN |
Kentucky
Recent Events
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Our East Kentucky Home: A Community Conversation August 1, 2019 Pikeville, KY |
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Voice For A Free Press December 9, 2018 Newport, KY |
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Ethical Appalachian Reporting: A Community Conversation March 31, 2018 Whitesburg, KY |
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A Community Conversation: Real News, Real Issues, Fake News, Fraudulent News March 27, 2018 Erlanger, KY |
Louisiana
Recent Events & Projects
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Words & Music Festival: Joy & Justice November 15 – November 18, 2018 New Orleans, LA |
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Blue House Nola: Mixed Media Project May 25, June 5 2018 New Orleans, LA |
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8 Years of Accountability: Supporting The Lens’ Birthday April 25, 2018 New Orleans, LA |
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Making Connections New Orleans: Media Fellowship Training January 26, February 10, February 17, March 10, 2018 New Orleans, LA Dialogues and media training with journalism, documentary, and photojournalism Fellows, in partnership with Crescent City Media |
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Writers In Community: New Orleans November 10, 2017 New Orleans, LA |
Massachusetts
Upcoming Events
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Race In the Public Dialogue: Understanding Criminal Justice Reform November 7, 2019 Boston, MA |
Recent Events
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Race In the Public Dialogue: Hate Speech and Free Speech In America Today October 17, 2019 Boston, MA |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Boston, MA September 23, 2019 Boston, MA |
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Race in the Public Dialogue: The Power and Presence of Women in the Civil War July 18, 2019 Boston, MA |
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Myth, Fate, and Family October 13, 2018 Boston, MA |
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PEN America at the Boston Book Festival October 13, 2018 Boston, MA |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Boston, MA September 24, 2018 Boston, MA |
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South Side Free Press November 2017 – January 2018 Framingham, MA |
Michigan
Recent Events
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Banned Books Week 2019: Ann Arbor September 22, 2019 Ann Arbor, MI |
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Art Activism and Ecopoetics September 14, 2019 Flint, MI |
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World Press Freedom Day: Detroit, MI May 9, 2019 Detroit, MI |
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Juneteenth Books, Poetry, & Art Fair June 16, 2018 Detroit, MI |
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Allied Media Conference June 15, 2018 Detroit, MI |
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Local Media & Immigrant Justice March 21, 2018 Detroit, MI |
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The Impact of Immigration Reform on Our Community January 25, 2018 Rochester, MI |
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Be the Facts You Wish to Read: A Press Freedom Discussion October 27, 2017 Detroit, MI |
Minnesota
Recent Events
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Solutions Journalism Network: What’s Working In Indian Country? September 18, 2019 Prior Lake, MN |
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Journalism as Storytelling: A Press Freedom Celebration May 11, 2019 Minneapolis, MN |
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Break Out: Voices From the Inside—Minneapolis September 9, 2018 Minneapolis, MN |
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Big Ideas: Bunk, Featuring Kevin Young & Marlon James March 19, 2018 Minneapolis, MN |
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Our Stories: Our News: A Conversation About The Power of The Story March 3, 2018 Minneapolis, MN |
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Be the Facts You Wish to Read: A Press Freedom Discussion November 20, 2017 Minneapolis, MN |
North Carolina
Upcoming Events
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Writers as Witness: Keynote Event October 23, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Writers as Witness: When Reporting is Personal December 5, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
Recent Events
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Writers as Witness: Working a Broad Beat: Regional and Freelance Journalism October 3, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Banned Books Week 2019: Literature Locked Up Banned Book Reading and Public Discussion September 24, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Writers as Witness: Why Local Journalism Matters September 18, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Environment and Place in Contemporary Appalachia May 18, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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New Voices in Appalachian Writing May 18, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy May 18, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Strikes and Songs: Activism in Appalachia May 17, 2019 Greensboro, NC |
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Losing a Generation: Addressing Mental Health Care Crisis & Combating the Opioid Epidemic March 26, 2018 Whiteville, NC |
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Anti-Oppression Media Strategies Toward Transgender Justice March 24, 2018 Wilmington, NC |
Ohio
Recent Events
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World Press Freedom Day: Cincinnati, OH May 2, 2019 Cincinnati, OH |
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Press Freedom Cincinnati: A Traveling Tour February 23, 2019 Cincinnati, OH |
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Covering a Crisis: A Conversation With the Writers of Behind “Seven Days of Heroin” February 23, 2018 Cincinnati, OH |
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Literary Activism Workshop Series: Writivism February 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2018 Cincinnati, OH |
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Be the Facts You Wish to Read: A Press Freedom Discussion November 19, 2017 Cincinnati, OH |
Oklahoma
Recent Events
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Banned Books Week 2019: Salman Rushdie and Laila Lalami September 24, 2019 Tulsa, OK |
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How to Snag a Story (or Poem) with Heid Erdrich April 12, 2019 Tulsa, OK |
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Heid E. Erdrich and Sly Alley April 11, 2019 Tulsa, OK |
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NAJA Indian Child Welfare Act Reporting Symposium February 28, 2019 Norman, OK |
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Our Stories, Our News: A Conversation With Local Journalists And Community Members January 15, 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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American Overdose: Reporting On The Opioid Tragedy January 14, 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
Pennsylvania
Recent Events
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Philadelphia, PA September 23, 2019 Philadelphia, PA |
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World Press Freedom Celebration Open Mic June 3, 2019 Philadelphia, PA |
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Media & Marginalization – Positively Queer April 24, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA |
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The Bridge February 28 and April 15, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA |
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PEN America Town Hall Meeting In Pittsburgh July 27, 2017 Pittsburgh, PA |
Tennessee
Recent Events
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Pressing Concerns: The State of the Free Press in Nashville March 13, 2018 Nashville, TN |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret With Special Guest PEN America September 30, 2017 Murfreesboro, TN |
Texas
Upcoming Events
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Texas Book Festival: Writing in a World of Borders and Bonds October 26, 2019 Austin, TX |
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Texas Book Festival: Points of Entry: Reporting on the Border October 27, 2019 Austin, TX |
RECENT Events
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Stories (Un)Told: Reporting on Family Separation and Immigration Policy October 27, 2018 Austin, TX |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Houston, TX September 29, 2018 Houston, TX |
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Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Dallas, TX September 28, 2018 Dallas, TX |
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A Reading and Conversation with Sheila Heti and Sigrid Nunez July 19, 2018 Dallas, TX |
Virginia
Recent Events
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Best Practices For Journalists Reporting On Domestic & Sexual Violence August 28, 2018 Petersburg, VA |
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Southern Nightmare: The Hunt for the South Side Strangler – Podcast Launch May 2, 2018 Richmond, VA |
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Local Voices Live April 10, 2018 Richmond, VA |
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WRIR Presents: Women in Audio RVA January 27, 2018 Richmond, VA |
MEEt OUR TEAM
Rebecca Werner
Director of Membership
Katie Zanecchia
National Outreach Program Director
Christopher Casey
Literary Activism and Engagement Program Manager
With special thanks to the supporters of this program:
