PEN Across America

World Press Freedom Day 2019: Atlanta

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. Chapters in Arizona, Utah, the Piedmont Region of North Carolina, and elsewhere are organizing public forums to debate critical issues, hosting writers for literary conversations, conducting advocacy campaigns, offering workshops on media literacy, storytelling, citizen journalism, and much more.

Find an event in your region below. Don’t see one? Apply for funds to defend press freedom! Interested in starting a PEN America chapter near you? Let us know!

PEN America Chapters

Pen Across America Arizona Chapter Logo

PEN America Austin Chapter logo

PEN America Birmingham Chapter logo

PEN America Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter logo

PEN America Detroit Chapter logo

PEN America Miami/South Florida Chapter logo

PEN America Piedmont Region Chapter logo

Help Build PEN America in Your city button

Join PEN America button

Regional Activity

Alabama

Recent Events

Ayana Mathis in Conversation

October 4, 2023
Birmigham, AL

A Conversation with Imani Perry

Birmingham Reads: A Conversation with Imani Perry

February 1, 2023
Fairfield, AL

Moonrise Over New Jessup: Jamila Minnicks at Thank You Books

January 17, 2023
Birmingham AL

Birmingham Reads: High Art From the Hollar: “The Value of Southern Colloquialisms”

December 8, 2022
Birmingham, AL

 

 

 

Birmingham Reads: Decolonizing Language

November 18, 2022
Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Reads

Birmingham Reads: “Agency of the Black Dollar In History”

October 28, 2023
Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Reads

 

Birmingham Reads: “To Whom Does This Place Belong?”
October 7, 2022
Birmingham, AL

Banned Books and Body Autonomy in Birmingham

 

Banned Books and Body Autonomy in Birmingham
September 21, 2022
Birmingham, AL

 
Birmingham Reads

 

Birmingham Reads: Who Bears the Legacy of Slavery?
September 15, 2022
Birmingham, AL

 

 

Birmingham Reads

Birmingham Reads: A City-Wide Read Kickoff Event
September 2, 2022
Birmingham, AL

 

Entangled Histories: Free Speech & Civil Rights from the 1960’s to Today
July 28, 2022
Birmingham, AL

Camille Dungy headshot

Linda Villarosa headshot, book cover of "Under the Skin", below: "Linda Villarosa in Conversation" Linda Villarosa in Conversation – Montgomery
June 21, 2022
Montgomery, AL
 

Camille Dungy headshot

[VIRTUAL] Nature In Poetry: A Poetry Workshop with Camille Dungy
November 7, 2020
Digital Event
 
A Conversation with Monique L. Jones and Dr. DeMaris B. Hill graphic: logos, headshots, and event details [VIRTUAL] A Conversation with Monique L. Jones and Dr. DeMaris B. Hill
October 10, 2020
Digital Event
 
Reading for Justice: Confronting Mass Incarceration in the South, Birmingham, Alabama Reading for Justice: Confronting Mass Incarceration in the South
February 15, 2020
Birmingham, AL
 

Pollution, Place, & The People image
Pollution, Place, & the People
September 28, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
World Press Freedom Day 2019 Banner World Press Freedom Day: Birmingham, AL
April 28, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
2019 Magic City Poetry Festival: Reading with Sonia Sanchez Image An Evening with Sonia Sanchez
April 16, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
Magic City Poetry Festival: Screening of BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez Header A Screening of “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez”
April 14, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
2019 Magic City Poetry Festival: In Translation Header In Translation: Reading and Discussion
April 10, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
Community Open Mic Poetry Readings
April 7, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
2019 Magic City Poetry Festival Kickoff MLK Remembrance Magic City Poetry Festival Kickoff: MLK Day of Remembrance
April 4, 2019
Birmingham, AL
 
50 Years Post-MLK: Media, The Magic City, And How The South Was Won
April 4, 2018
Birmingham, AL
 
Writers In Community: Birmingham
October 20, 2017 
Birmingham, AL
 

Arizona

Recent Events

Free Expressions and Schools 

October 14, 2023
450 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ

The Holy Days of Gregorio Pasos: A Book Launch/Summer Mixer 

July 11, 2023
906 W Roosevelt St Phoenix, AZ

Meet Your Media: A Celebration of World Press Freedom Day

May 3, 2023
300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ

Reproductive Writers: A Night of Free Expression, Fun, and Body Autonomy

January 21. 2023
300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ

Band Against the Ban in Arizona

September 18, 2022
300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ

Joys of Queerness and The Word: An Indigiqueer Reading

June 25, 2022
906 W Roosevelt St Phoenix, AZ 

Writers in Community: Tucson

October 10, 2017
606 N 4th Ave Tucson, AZ

Presenetation of Digna with Audience Talkback

October 5, 2017
YWCA Southern Arizona, AZ

California

Recent Events

PEN America Los Angeles  Member Happy Hour
November 30, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Classrooms as Courtrooms: An “Inherit the Wind” Talk-Back
November 18, 2023
Pasadena, CA
Banned! A Panel Discussion on Book Bans, and Citizenship
October 25, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Building Bridges: A Conversation About Book Banning 
October 22, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Presents: L.A. Noir
October 17, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Justin Torres + Angela Flournoy | PEN Presents
October 9, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Viet Thanh Nguyen + Susan Straight | PEN Out Loud
October 5, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Earth, Fire, Water, Music: A Celebration of New York 
September 26, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN America Summer Happy Hour
July 11, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Out Loud: Cheon Myeong-Kwan + Chi Young Kim
June,  8 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Screenwriters: From the Blacklist to Today’s WGA Strike
June,  4 2023
Los Angeles, CA
Freedom to Learn Student Summit -Southern California PEN America’s Freedom to Learn Student Summit – Southern California
May 20, 2023
Lawndale, CA
PEN America at the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
April 22, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Presents | The People’s Tongue: Americans and The English Language
April 19, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Out Loud: Alexandra Petri + Megan Amram
April 18, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Out Loud: Mahogany L. Browne + Alyesha Wise
April 5, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
PEN America’s Freedom to Learn Student Summit – North California 
March 25, 2023
San Francisco, CA

PEN Out Loud: Patricia Engel + Jean Chen Ho

February 9, 2023
Santa Monica, CA

New Year New Books Los Angeles 2023

February 2, 2023
Los Angeles, CA

James Hannaham headshot and Carlotta book cover

PEN America’s Author’s Evening With James Hannaham

January 9, 2023
Los Angeles, CA

PEN America”s Bay Area Free Expression Student Summit

November 19, 2022
Berkeley, CA

Censored: Free Speech and Hollywood
November 16, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
Reading Between the Lines: Race, Equity, and Book Publishing
November 3 2022
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Out Loud: Celeste Ng with Gabrielle Zevin
October 20, 2022
Los Angeles CA
PEN Presents: Cleyvis Natera and Steph Cha
June 20, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
2022 World Voices Festival 
May 11-114, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
PEN America: Fact v. Fiction: Journalism Confronts Disinformation
April 23, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
PEN Presents: A Screening of WRITING WITH FIRE
March 23, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
Julissa Arce headshot and You Sound Like a White Girl book cover PEN Out Loud: Julissa Arce with Aida Rodriguez
March 22, 2023
Claremont, CA
graphic for Pen Presents Reyna Grande and Hector Tobar

PEN Presents: Reyna Grande and Héctor Tobar 
March 15, 2022
Pasadena, CA


Censored by China: Defending Creative Expression in a Global Market

February 24, 2022
Los Angeles, CA

Carmen Maria Machado PEN Presents: Carmen Maria Machado
November 21, 2019
Los Angeles, CA
headshots of Jose Olivarez and Jennine Capo Crucet PEN Presents: José Olivarez & Jennine Capó Crucet
October 16, 2019
Los Angeles, CA
Literature Locked Up Banned Books Week 2019 image Banned Books Week 2019: From Trauma to Transformation
September 27 2019
Sylmar, CA
PEN West End Of Year Party And World Press Freedom Day PEN West End of Year Party & World Press Freedom Day Celebration
May 11, 2019
Berkeley, CA
Florida

Recent Events

The Troubled History of Book Bans

October 18, 2023
Fort Lauderdale, FL

No Straight Lines: The Past, Present, and Future of Queer Comics

June 22, 2023
Miami, FL

Banned Book Giveaway and Celebration

June 6, 2023
Coral Gables, FL

Let Florida Read: A Read-In To Celebrate The Freedom To Read

March 21, 2023
Tallahassee, FL

PEN America Presents Break Out: Miami

Breakout: The Writing of Incarcerated Writers from South Florida

March 9, 2023
Miami, FL

LGBTQ Public Health Issues

Unpacking the Media Coverage of LGBTQ Public Health Issues

February 10, 2023
Ft Lauderdale, FL

Suzanne Nossel and Tara Westover headshots

PEN America Authors’ Evening With Tara Westover and Suzanne Nossel

January 12, 2022
Fisher Island, FL

PEN America’s Free Expression Student Summit at Miami Dade College

October 21, 2022
Miami, FL

Choosing Community: Toward a Civic & Informed South Florida

September 24, 2022
Coral Gables, FL

The Assault on Black Thought: Book Banning in Florida

September 17, 2022
Coral Gables, FL

Event promo image for Andrew Holleran in Conversation PEN America at the Believer Festival
July 23, 2022
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Carel Pedre, Herve Fanini-Lemoine, and Myrtha Wroy headshots

[VIRTUAL] Gray Areas: Human Relations and Critical Thinking in the Era of Social Media

Sunday, May 23, 2021
Miami, FL

Miami Book Fair: Four Poets Confront Atrocity
November 24, 2019
Miami, FL

Miami Book Fair: The Power of the Press event image Miami Book Fair: The Power of the Press
November 23, 2019
Miami, FL
Banned Together St. Petersburg Banned Together: A Censorship CabaretSt. Petersburg, FL
September 23, 2019
St. Petersburg, FL
Little Haiti Book Festival Event Image On the Page and On the Stage (Storytelling Workshop)
May 5 2019
Miami, FL
Miami Performs: A Living Memorial For the Victims of the Zong Massacre
October 4, 2018
Miami, FL
Tributo A Un Bello Idioma
October 4, 2018
Miami, FL
Representations of Haiti in Literature & Popular Culture
March 6, 2018
Miami, FL
Kaiama Glover: Analysis of Media Representation of Haiti and Africa 
March 5, 2018
Miami, FL
Local News And Citizen Journalism in Miami
April 25, 2018
Miami, FL
Speak Freely, Write Boldly: A First Amendment Seminar
March 11, 2018
Daytona, FL
Georgia

Recent Events


The Counter Narrative Project: Messaging, Media & Monkeypox

November 30, 2022
East Point, GA

Suzanne Nossel headshot on right; on left: “Suzanne Nossel with Joe Crespino" in text and AJC Decatur Book Festival and PEN America logos

[VIRTUAL] Dare to Speak: Suzanne Nossel with Joe Crespino
October 14, 2020

Paint It Black: Combating Gentrification Through the Arts
December 14, 2019
Atlanta, GA
Banned Books Week 2019: Freedom To Read Banned Books Week 2019: Freedom to Read
September 27, 2019
Decatur, GA
Banned Together Atlanta Banned Together: A Censorship CabaretAtlanta, GA
September 25, 2019
Atlanta, GA
2019 AJC Decatur Book Festival Image PEN America at the 2019 AJC-Decatur Book Festival
August 30, 2019 – September 1, 2019
Atlanta, GA
Emory PEN America Decatur Book Festival Keynote Image Emory/PEN America-Decatur Book Festival Keynote
August 30, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC Decatur Festival 2019 Poetry Reading Richard Blanco And Natalie Scenters Zapico Image Poetry Reading: Richard Blanco and Natalie Scenters-Zapico
August 31, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 Poetry Reading Rigoberto González and Kate Daniels Poetry Reading: Rigoberto González and Kate Daniels
August 31, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 Searching For Community And Home Amid Displacement Searching for Community and Home Amid Displacement
August 31, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur 2019 Festival: The Death And Life Of Aida Hernandez The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez
August 31, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur 2019 Festival: Literary Adventure And The American West Literary Adventure and the American West
August 31, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 Sacrifice In The Name Of Love Sacrifice in the Name of Love
September 1, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 After The Fall Stories Amid The Echoes Of Collapse After the Fall: Stories Amid the Echoes of Collapse
September 1, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 Writing Identity In A Fractured World Writing Identity in a Fractured World
September 1, 2019
Atlanta, GA
AJC-Decatur Festival 2019 What We Gain When We Welcome What We Gain When We Welcome
September 1, 2019
Atlanta, GA
World Press Freedom Day 2019 Banner World Press Freedom Day: Atlanta, GA
May 2, 2019
Atlanta, GA
Online Harassment Defense Training on April 13, 2019 Defending Against Online Harassment—Atlanta
April 13, 2019
Atlanta, GA
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Atlanta, GA
September 28, 2018
Atlanta, GA

Illinois

Recent Events


PEN America at the Fall 2022 Augustana Symposium Day
October 12, 2022
Rock Island County, IL

Indiana

Recent Events


The World We Live(d) In event image

Spirit and Place Festival: The World We Live(d) In
November 10, 2019
Indianapolis, IN

Undocumented: Poets Laureate Event Image

Undocumented: Great Lakes Poets Laureate on Social Justice
April 20, 2019
Indianapolis, IN

Alabama Story
September 28, 2018
Indianapolis, IN
Break Out: Voices from the Inside—Indianapolis
September 10, 2018
Indianapolis, IN
In the Balance: Press Freedom & The Public Good in The USA Gymnastics Investigation
March 22, 2018
Indianapolis, IN

 

Louisiana

Recent Events


Headshots of Jarvis DeBerry and Kelly Harris-DeBerry side by side [VIRTUAL] A Conversation with Jarvis DeBerry and Kelly Harris-DeBerry
November 19, 2020

PEN and Words & Music Festival present NOJO performs "Vengeance" event image Words & Music Festival: NOJO performs “Vengeance”
November 23, 2019
New Orleans, LA
words and music festival journalism and justice event photo Words & Music Festival: Journalism and Justice
November 22, 2019
New Orleans, LA
Words & Music Festival: Joy & Justice
November 15 – November 18, 2018
New Orleans, LA
Blue House Nola: Mixed Media Project
May 25, June 5 2018
New Orleans, LA
8 Years of Accountability: Supporting The Lens’ Birthday
April 25, 2018
New Orleans, LA
Making Connections New Orleans: Media Fellowship Training
January 26, February 10, February 17, March 10, 2018
New Orleans, LA
D
ialogues and media training with journalism, documentary, and photojournalism Fellows, in partnership with Crescent City Media
  Writers In Community: New Orleans
November 10, 2017
New Orleans, LA

Maryland

Recent Events


Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Baltimore, MD
September 23, 2018
Baltimore, MD
Massachusetts

Recent Events


Race in the Public Dialogue: Understanding Criminal Justice Reform event image Race In the Public Dialogue: Understanding Criminal Justice Reform
November 7, 2019
Boston, MA
Photo of Polina Kovaleva, Lev Golinkin and Katherine Young Boston Book Festival:
Activism, Free Expression, and Dissent in Eurasia
October 19, 2019
Boston, MA
Image of speakers Randall L. Kennedy, Maya Wiley, and Nina McConigley Race In the Public Dialogue: Hate Speech and Free Speech In America Today
October 17, 2019
Boston, MA
Banned Together Boston Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Boston, MA
September 23, 2019
Boston, MA
Race in the Public Dialogue: The Power and Presence of Women in the Civil War event image Race in the Public Dialogue: The Power and Presence of Women in the Civil War
July 18, 2019
Boston, MA
Myth, Fate, and Family
October 13, 2018
Boston, MA
PEN America at the Boston Book Festival
October 13, 2018
Boston, MA
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Boston, MA
September 24, 2018
Boston, MA
South Side Free Press
November 2017 – January 2018
Framingham, MA

Missouri

Recent Events


Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—St. Louis, MO
September 25, 2018
St. Louis, MO

Nebraska

Recent Events


KANEKO Passages Series With Jennifer Egan Image KANEKO Passages Series with Jennifer Egan
July 19, 2019
Omaha, NE

Nevada

Recent Events


PEN America at the Believer Festival Image PEN America at the Believer Festival
April 27, 2019
Las Vegas, NV

North Carolina

Recent Events


PEN Write Now: Your South, Our South

May, 20 2023
Durham, NC

Censorship in Medical Education and the Humanities

April, 12 2023
Durham, NC

PEN Write: Prompt Party

April, 11 2023
Flat Rock, NC

Mentoring Incarcerated Authors

December 15, 2022
Asheville, NC

Top: "Black Voices Mixer", Headshots of Johnny Lee Chapman, III, Ashley Lumpkin, and Krystal Smith, Bottom: "It's Time for a Different Conversation"

PEN Write Now: Black Voices Mixer

October 22, 2022
Greensboro, NC

 

Banned Book Week Social Hour

Banned Book Week Social Hour in Durham, North Carolina

September 20, 2022
Durham, NC

 

Linda Villarosa headshot, book cover of "Under the Skin", below: "Linda Villarosa in Conversation"

Linda Villarosa in Conversation- Chapel Hill

June 15, 2022

The words, "Journalism, Justice, and Activism at Greensboro Bound," in front of a stack of newspapers. At the bottom, logos for PEN America Piedmont and Greensboro Bound Literary Festival. Journalism, Justice, and Activism at Greensboro Bound
May 21-22, 2022
Greesnboro, NC
Celebration of Banned Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
May 7, 2022
Raleigh, NC

Linda Villarosa headshot, book cover of "Under the Skin", below: "Linda Villarosa in Conversation"

Linda Villarosa in Conversation- Greensboro

June 16, 2022

"Environmental Journalism in North Carolina" over image of camera standing on a tripod in front of the beach looking out on the water; overlaid with red; NC Humanities logo and PEN America Piedmont Region logos at the bottom

[VIRTUAL] Environmental Journalism in North Carolina
March 16, 2021

On top: "Dear 2020: A Spoken Word and Poetry Performance" in text; PEN America and The Ink Project logos on the bottom

[VIRTUAL] Dear 2020: A Virtual Spoken Word and Poetry Performance
October 30, 2020

“Stories of Endangered Language Activism” header image: PEN America Piedmont Region and Living Tongues logos, event title, and subheading “A Virtual Reading on Wednesday, September 16 | 7pm ET / 4pm PT”

[VIRTUAL] Stories of Endangered Language Activism
September 16, 2020

Black Voices, Vibrant Southern Cities

[VIRTUAL] Black Voices, Vibrant Southern Cities
June 30, 2020

[VIRTUAL] Journalism Beyond “Objectivity”
June 24, 2020

Literary Frivolity
February 23, 2020
Durham, NC

Knowing the News: An Interactive Media Literacy Workshop
March 17, 2020
Greensboro, NC

Writers as Witness: Free Speech in a Time of Hate
January 29, 2020
Greensboro, NC

Health, Housing, and Hurricane Recovery in Robeson County
January 25. 2020
Lumberton, NC

Fractured Democracy: Rural News & Representation in North Carolina Media
January 9, 2020
Durham, NC

Writers As Witness When Reporting Is Personal

Writers as Witness: When Reporting is Personal
December 5, 2019
Greensboro, NC

'Member When?: A Community Retelling of Downtown Durham event image

‘Member When?: A Community Retelling of Downtown Durham
November 6, 2019
Durham, NC

Writers As Witness Keynote Writers as Witness: Keynote Event 
October 23, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Writers As Witness Working A Broad Beat event icon Writers as Witness: Working a Broad Beat: Regional and Freelance Journalism
October 3, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Literature Locked Up Banned Books Week 2019 image Banned Books Week 2019: Literature Locked Up Banned Book Reading and Public Discussion
September 24, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Writers As Witness Why Local Journalism Matters event image Writers as Witness: Why Local Journalism Matters
September 18, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Bound Environment And Place In Contemporary Appalachia Event Photo Environment and Place in Contemporary Appalachia
May 18, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Bound New Voices In Appalachian Writing Event Image New Voices in Appalachian Writing
May 18, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Bound Appalachian Reckoning Event Image Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy
May 18, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Bound: Strikes And Songs Activism In Appalachia Event Image Strikes and Songs: Activism in Appalachia
May 17, 2019
Greensboro, NC
Losing a Generation: Addressing Mental Health Care Crisis & Combating the Opioid Epidemic
March 26, 2018
Whiteville, NC
Anti-Oppression Media Strategies Toward Transgender Justice
March 24, 2018
Wilmington, NC

Oklahoma

Recent Events


Quinn Carver Johnson in Conversation
September 28, 2023
Tulsa, OK
   

Freedom to Read Community Summit – Tulsa

September 9, 2023
Tulsa, OK

Meet Your Media: Creating a More Informed and Equitable Society
July 20, 2023
Tulsa, OK
Didn’t Nobody Give a S*** What Happened to Carlotta: The Reading
May 21, 2023
Tulsa, OK
Didn’t Nobody Give a S*** What Happened to Carlotta: The Party
May 20, 2023
Tulsa, OK
Flashpoints: Free Speech in American History, Culture, and Society
April 27, 2023
Tulsa, OK
The media's Role in the era of Book Bans

[Virtual] The Media’s Role in the Era of Book Bans

November 1, 2022
Tulsa, OK

Dan Pfeiffer In Person Dan Pfeiffer – In Person
June 21, 2022
Tulsa, OK
Event promo image for An Evening With Nikole Hannah-Jones An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Nikole Hannah-Jones
April 30, 2022
Tulsa, OK
graphic for Independent Bookstore Day Independent Bookstore Day: A Conversation With Kalani Pickhart and Jennifer Croft
April 30, 2022
Tulsa, OK
From left to right: Headshots of Randy Krehbiel, Ginnie Graham, and Hannibal Johnson [VIRTUAL] THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE: SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION, THEN AND NOW
January 28, 2021
Tulsa, OK
Dare to Speak Virtual Book Tour: July–August 2020 [VIRTUAL] Dare to Speak: Suzanne Nossel in Conversation with Dr. John Schumann
August 10, 2020
Tulsa, OK
Jennifer Boylan Image [VIRTUAL] The Transformative Power of Loving Dogs: Jennifer Finney Boylan
July 23, 2020
Tulsa, OK
Banned Books Week 2019 Salman Rushdie And Laila Lalami Banned Books Week 2019: Salman Rushdie and Laila Lalami
September 24, 2019
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa LitFest Workshop With Heid Erdrich Header How to Snag a Story (or Poem) with Heid Erdrich
April 12, 2019
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa LitFest: Heid Erdrich and Sly Alley Event Header Heid E. Erdrich and Sly Alley
April 11, 2019
Tulsa, OK
event flyer for the Indian Child Welfare Act Reporting Symposium with keynote speaker Suzette Brewer NAJA Indian Child Welfare Act Reporting Symposium
February 28, 2019
Norman, OK
Our Stories, Our News: A Conversation with Journalists and Community Members About Local News Our Stories, Our News: A Conversation With Local Journalists And Community Members
January 15, 2019
Tulsa, Oklahoma
American Overdose event featured image American Overdose: Reporting On The Opioid Tragedy
January 14, 2019
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Recent Events

The Freedom to Read Panel: A Discussion with Sigal Beb-Porath, Kadey Meehan, and Samantha Hull 

October 5, 2023
Philadelphia, PA

Free Speech and Schools

January 7, 2023
Philadelphia, PA

graphic for Ayad and Alexandra's event

PEN Presents: Ayad Akhtar and Alexandra Schwartz
March 24, 2022
Philadelphia, PA

A Conversation With Chad Sweeney event image

A Conversation with Chad Sweeney
November 4, 2019
Philadelphia, PA

Risk and Reward: Local Journalists Covering the Front Lines of War in Syria and Yemen, with Zaina Erhaim and Safa al-Ahmad Risk and Reward: Local Journalists Covering the Front Lines of War in Syria and Yemen
October 22, 2019
Philadelphia, PA
Banned Together Philadelphia Banned Together: A Censorship CabaretPhiladelphia, PA
September 23, 2019
Philadelphia, PA
World Press Freedom Day 2019 Banner World Press Freedom Celebration Open Mic
June 3, 2019
Philadelphia, PA
Media & Marginalization – Positively Queer
April 24, 2018
Pittsburgh, PA
The Bridge
February 28 and April 15, 2018
Pittsburgh, PA
  PEN America Town Hall Meeting In Pittsburgh
July 27, 2017
Pittsburgh, PA
Tennessee

Recent Events


PEN America’s Free Expression Summit at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

March 31, 2023
Knoxville, TN

Headshots of Masha Gessen, Wesley Morris, and Suzanne Nossel

[VIRTUAL] A Conversation with Masha Gessen and Wesley Morris
October 7, 2020

Southern Festival of Books 2019 Migration Narratives New Fiction And Nashville Stories Southern Festival of Books: Migration Narratives: New Fiction and Nashville Stories
October 13, 2019
Nashville, TN
Humanities Tennessee 2019 Coming Of Age At The End Of An Empire Novels For Young Readers Event Icon Southern Festival of Books: Coming of Age at the End of An Empire: Novels for Young Readers
October 13, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books 2019 Know Thyself Finding Identity Through Memoir And Poetry event page Southern Festival of Books: Know Thyself: Finding Identity Through Memoir and Poetry
October 13, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books 2019 My Country Tis Of Me Two Memoirs Southern Festival of Books: My Country Tis of Me: Two Memoirs
October 13, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books 2019 How We Fight For Our Lives A Memoir event page Southern Festival of Books: How We Fight For Our Lives: A Memoir
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Humanities Tennessee 2019 Youth Out Loud YA Novels Southern Festival of Books: Youth Out Loud: YA Novels
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Humanities Tennessee 2019 On The Plain Of Snakes A Mexican Journey Southern Festival of Books: On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books: Shared History: Americans of Hispanic and African Descent event image Southern Festival of Books: Shared History: Americans of Hispanic and African Descent
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books: A Good Provider is One Who Leaves: One Family and Migration in the 21st Century event image Southern Festival of Books: A Good Provider is One Who Leaves: One Family and Migration in the 21st Century
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books: A Beginner's Guide to Japan Observations and Provocations event image Southern Festival of Books: A Beginner’s Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations
October 12, 2019
Nashville, TN
Southern Festival of Books A Fortune For Your Disaster image Southern Festival of Books: A Fortune for Your Disaster
October 11, 2019
Nashville, TN
My Year of Rest and Relaxation event image Southern Festival of Books: My Year of Rest and Relaxation
October 11, 2019
Nashville, TN
PEN America at the Southern Festival of Books Event Image PEN America at the Southern Festival of Books
October 11-13, 2019
Nashville, TN
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Nashville, TN
September 29, 2019
Nashville, TN
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Nashville, TN
September 30, 2018
Nashville, TN
Pressing Concerns: The State of the Free Press in Nashville
March 13, 2018
Nashville, TN
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret With Special Guest PEN America
September 30, 2017
Murfreesboro, TN

Texas

Recent Events


Pulitzer on the Road: American Stories Then & Now

November 16, 2023
Austin, TX

PEN America Author’s Evening with Christine Coulson

November 9, 2023

Dallas, TX

Mitchell S. Jackson in Conversation

September 22, 2023
Dallas, TX

PEN America Author’s Evening with Cynt Marshall

September 19, 2023
Dallas, TX

A Reading with Cheon Myeong-Kwan

June 11, 2023
Dallas, TX

People, Policy, and Power: Panel Discussion at the Potters House of Dallas

April 29, 2023
Dallas, TX

Book Bans and Disinformation: The Ties Between Media Literacy and the Freedom to Read

March 28, 2023
Dallas, TX

Panel Discussion at the Porter’s House in Dallas: “Fake News” or not?

March  25, 2023
Dallas, TX

Educational Gag Orders in Texas and the Nation

October 12, 2022
Austin, TX

Book Bans and Disinformation: The Ties between Media Literacy and Freedom to Read

October 12, 2022
Dallas, TX

Celebrating the Power of Community Journalism in Fort Worth During Election Seasons

October 11, 2022
Fort Worth, TX

 

Resisting Censorship in Austin - a Public Reading of Banned Books

Resisting Censorship in Austin – a Community Reading of Banned Books

 September 2, 2022 

graphic for Who Is Afraid of Black Books Who Is Afraid of Black Books?
June 2, 2022
Austin, Texas
headshots of Charles Blow, Rebecca Aguilar, Tom Huang, and Hannah Waltz; at the bottom: “The State Of American Journalism: Where are we, where are we going?”

State of American Journalism: Where Are We, Where Are We going?
March 20, 2022
Dallas, Texas

Dallas skyline in background; on top: logos of Dallas Literary Festival and PEN America Dallas/Fort Worth, and “PEN America at the Dallas Literary Festival” [VIRTUAL] PEN America at the Dallas Literary Festival
 March 27, 2021 – March 28, 2021
Headshots of Nikki Giovanni, Lisa B. Thompson, Matthew Pettway, and Walter Mosley [VIRTUAL] Fifth Annual Celebration of Diverse Literary Voices of Texas
January 30, 2021
“Témoris Grecko, Killing the Story: Journalists Risking Their Lives to Uncover the Truth in Mexico” at the top; underneath, Témoris Grecko’s headshot and book cover, logos of PEN America and Univision [VIRTUAL] Killing the Story: A Conversation with Témoris Grecko
November 8, 2020
[VIRTUAL] A Conversation with A. Kendra Greene and Fowzia Karimi
October 27, 2020
Mayborn Conference 2020 Logo with text "Bringing Truth into Focus" [VIRTUAL] 2020 Mayborn Conference
October 16-18, 2020
Ayad Akhtar headshot on the left; on the right: Logos of The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, and PEN America [VIRTUAL] Homeland Elegies: Ayad Akhtar in Conversation with Dr. Jaina Sanga
October 6, 2020
Suzanne Nossel headshot on right; on left: “A Conversation with Suzanne Nossel and Ben Fountain” in text and The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Institute, and PEN America logos [VIRTUAL] Dare To Speak: Suzanne Nossel With Ben Fountain
September 29, 2020
Hay Forum Dallas Image [VIRTUAL] Alma Guillermoprieto in Conversation with Javier Lafuente
September 3, 2020
“How Are Literary Organizations Surviving COVID-19?” graphic: participant names and headshots [VIRTUAL] Literary Organizations in the Time of COVID-19
September 2, 2020
[VIRTUAL] PEN America Dallas/Fort Worth Happy Hour
August 27, 2020
Race And Allyship In America [VIRTUAL] A Conversation on Race and Allyship in America
August 14, 2020
[WEBINAR] Media Literacy in the Disinformation Age – with the Dallas Public Library
June 23, 2020
[VIRTUAL] PEN America Austin Town Hall
May 29, 2020
[VIRTUAL] PEN and LitNight to Organize Public Reading 
May 12, 2020
media literacy phone [Webinar] Knowing the News:
Media Literacy in the Age of COVID-19

April 13, 2020
Playwrights in the Newsroom
March 5- March 15, 2020
Dallas, TX
Diverse Literary Voices of Texas - Borderless: Conversations on Art, Activism, and Justice Borderless: Conversations on Art, Activism, and Justice
February 22, 2020
Austin, TX
Diverse Literary Voices of Texas - The Future of Black Journalism in Austin The Future of Black Journalism in Austin
February 22, 2020
Austin, TX
Playwrights in the Newsroom Workshop: Oakland Cliff
December 16, 2019
Dallas, TX
Points of Entry: Reporting on the Border event image Points of Entry: Reporting on the Border
October 27, 2019
Austin, TX
Texas Book Festival Writing In A World Of Borders And Bonds image Texas Book Festival: Writing in a World of Borders and Bonds
October 26, 2019
Austin, TX
Playwrights in the Newsroom Workshop: Highland Park
October 17, 2019
Dallas, TX
Life And Death In A Carceral State event image Life and Death in a Carceral State
October 15, 2019
Austin, TX
Literature Locked Up Banned Books Week 2019 image Banned Books Week 2019: Banned Books Week(end)
September 28, 2019
Dallas, TX
Banned Together Dallas Banned Together: A Censorship CabaretDallas, TX
September 27, 2019
Dallas, TX
Literature Locked Up Banned Books Week 2019 image Banned Books Week 2019: Banned Books Bash
September 25, 2019
Austin, TX
The Border: Epicenter of Our Homelands image The Border: Epicenter of Our Homelands
September 25, 2019
Dallas, TX
Banned Together Houston Banned Together: A Censorship CabaretHouston, TX
September 23, 2019
Houston, TX
PEN America at the 2019 Hay Forum Dallas Event Image PEN America at the 2019 Hay Forum Dallas
September 7, 2019
Dallas, TX
Mayborn Nonfiction Conference Beautiful Country Burn Again Democracy, Rebellion, And Revolution Image Beautiful Country Burn Again: Democracy, Rebellion, and Revolution
July 20, 2019
Grapevine, TX
2019 Mayborn Nonfiction Conference When Should Journalists Become Activists Image When Should Journalists Become Activists
July 20, 2019
Grapevine, TX
PEN America at the Dallas Festival of Books and Ideas Event Image The Dallas Festival of Books and Ideas: The Literary City
May 31, 2019
Dallas, TX
World Press Freedom Day 2019 Banner World Press Freedom Day: Austin, TX
May 8, 2019
Austin, TX
World Press Freedom Day 2019 Banner World Press Freedom Day: Dallas, TX
May 2, 2019
Dallas, TX
Welcome to Texas sign Boundaries and Borders: The City
April 30, 2019
Dallas, TX
Welcome to Texas sign Boundaries and Borders: Art
March 26, 2019
Dallas, TX
Journalism Workshop at the Wild Detectives
March 28, 2019
Dallas, TX
The Wild Detectives A Play About Journalism
March 21, 2019
Dallas, TX
Boundaries and Borders event flyer Boundaries and Borders: Storytelling and Journalism
February 26, 2019
Dallas, TX
Celebration Of Diverse Literary Voices Of Texas event flyer Celebration of Diverse Literary Voices of Texas
February 23, 2019
Austin, TX
PEN America at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
October 27-28, 2018
Austin, TX
Stories (Un)Told: Reporting on Family Separation and Immigration Policy
October 27, 2018
Austin, TX
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Houston, TX
September 29, 2018
Houston, TX
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret—Dallas, TX
September 28, 2018
Dallas, TX
A Reading and Conversation with Sheila Heti and Sigrid Nunez
July 19, 2018
Dallas, TX
Utah

Recent Events


A Read-In to Celebrate the Freedom to Read 
January 25, 2023
Salt Lake City, UT
FREE SPEECH & BANNED BOOKS: A CONVERSATION WITH AZAR NAFISI in Utah Free Speech & Banned Books: A Conversation with Azar Nafisi in Utah
September 22, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT
headshot of Ayad Akhtar; at the bottom: "David P. Gardner Lecture in the Humanities and Fine Arts with Ayad Akhtar" David P. Gardner Lecture in Humanities and Fine Arts with Ayad Akhtar
March 29, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT

 

Meet Our Team

William Johnson headshot

William Johnson
Program Director, PEN Across America

Andrew White
Senior Manager, PEN Across America

headshot of Sabrina Adams

Sabrina Adams
Program Manager, PEN Across America

 

With special thanks to the supporters of this program: