PEN Across America

With mounting threats to a free press and other cornerstones of our democracy, 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, writers, and allies across the country in new locally-led efforts to protect press freedom and promote informed debate, facilitate dialogue across polarizing differences, and foster deeper learning and engagement on a range of free expression issues.

Our new initiative, PEN Across America, provides resources to support a vibrant array of press freedom actions including public forums, advocacy for local news outlets, and media literacy workshops, which often take place alongside provocative conversations on subjects of civic consequence and other events that embrace the literary achievements that free expression rights make possible. From state to state, in cities like Detroit, Birmingham, and Denver, we’re working with PEN America members and other allies, across divisions of ideology and experience, to advance our shared mission.