2021 Community Partnership Programs
In collaboration with four community partner organizations, we offer media literacy workshops to counter vaccine misinformation. More
Ayad Akhtar’s Remarks at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala
“Reading, of course, is an individual act, but a culture that fosters reading and one that supports writers, invariably compels us to presence, to protest, to celebration.” More
The PEN Pod: On Trauma, Identity, and Reinvention with Dan O’Brien
“It’s so important to me to push through the taboo of what we shouldn’t speak about and can’t speak about, or feel we can’t speak about.” More
Temperature Check, Vol. 13: Reflections, The Closing Issue
Our Temperature Check series concludes with updates from featured guests and writers as well as the latest in legislative and organizational advocacy efforts. More
The PEN Pod: On Vaccine Misinformation, the Capitol Insurrection, and Crackdowns on Journalists in Russia
“It’s extremely important to get [the Capitol insurrection] down as a first draft of history that cannot be wished away or ignored.” More
LGBTQ+ Advocate Frank Mugisha Discusses the State of Free Expression in Uganda
PEN America worked with a local partner to interview Frank Mugisha regarding the state of free expression for the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community. More
The PEN Pod: On Identity Politics, Queer Selfhood, and Libraries with Lisa Hiton and Dylan Zavagno
“Queer poetics right now, at least as the poems that we have are beginning to tell us, say a lot about revolution, image, form—form being an equivalent to the… More
The PEN Pod: On Threats to Journalists, Information Ecosystems, and Critical Race Theory
“The gag order—what it illustrates is just the breadth and the power that the Justice Department has had to silence and stifle inquiry.” More
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Loved last night’s celebration of books and reading at the Utah State Capitol. #LetUtahRead #utpol
"While no Republican members of Congress have directly addressed the Santos drag allegations, drag has become a hot-button issue in the party.
At least 8 states have introduced... legislation to restrict or censor drag shows, according to Pen America." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64388524
Every year, over 10 million people are admitted to jails in the U.S.—causing immense harm and disruption to people’s lives, families, and communities.
Too often, the harsh reality of life behind bars is invisible to the public. https://www.vera.org/the-human-toll-of-jail-2023