A Woman Sitting in a Coffee Shop and Writing

Help Us Create Equity

While we all know that creating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is important in the book world, it doesn't happen overnight or for free. Please help us raise funds for the Authentic Voices program with a small or large donation.

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WHY ARE WE DIFFERENT?

BIPOC PRODUCED

This program centers our voices, experiences, and creative control at every level—from concept to execution. It exists to build power, challenge industry norms, and create space for stories that are too often pushed aside, reclaiming space where we’ve long been overlooked or excluded.

BIPOC LED

The leadership team reflects the communities this program serves—grounded in lived experience, cultural insight, and creative vision. Decisions are made with intention, accountability, and care, ensuring the work stays rooted, relevant, and responsive to the people it’s meant to uplift and represent.

BIPOC TAUGHT

Taught by people who share our histories, understand our contexts, and speak from experience—not just theory. The program's teaching is rooted in care, rigor, and truth, creating a learning environment where we don’t have to explain ourselves to be understood and are empowered through shared insight.

CULTURALLY GROUNDED

Our work pulls from the cultures that raised us while pushing creative boundaries forward. We don’t separate identity from innovation—our aesthetics, rhythms, and references are shaped by who we are. Culture isn’t a theme—it’s the framework, the influence, and the fuel.

What is the Authentic Voices Program?

The Authentic Voices Fellowship supports writers whose stories have been pushed to the margins. Rooted in equity and access, this free, four-to-six-month program offers mentorship in writing, editing, marketing, querying, and publishing—ending with publication and a stipend. More than skill-building, it’s about community, connection, and creative growth. We center lived experience, creative agency, and cultural depth, creating space for writers to develop their voice and vision alongside others.

Up to ten writers will be selected, with priority given to those historically excluded in publishing. No fees. No membership required. Just space, support, and the tools to thrive—and a belief that powerful stories can reshape the future. Open to U.S.-based writers 18 and older.

APPLY HERE

From Our Founder

"Everything begins with the story. It drives the process, shapes the vision, and defines the impact. We center narrative as a tool for truth, memory, and imagination—creating work that reflects who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going."

-Natalie Obando