Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning

Celebrating 5 Years of the
Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative

The Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative (KBWC) empowers Black writers across Kentucky with scholarships, mentorship, advocacy, and a supportive community that expands access to writing and publishing opportunities for historically marginalized voices. Since 2020, KBWC has awarded over 540 scholarships, invested nearly $45,000 in writers’ creative work, featured more than 70 writers, engaged more than 1,000 attendees, and brought three major public art projects to life across Lexington.
 

More than a single program, our KBWC provides holistic support for Black writers, offering opportunities to learn, connect, grow, and share their work with the world. Through events including Black & Lit, Burn the Mic, discussions, readings, and public art projects, KBWC celebrates published and aspiring Black writers and creates space for writers to build relationships, find encouragement, and return to their work and to one another. 

This year, we are proud to celebrate five years of the KBWC at Carnegie. Black writers have always been part of Kentucky’s literary history, and KBWC is helping shape its future. Help us reach our goal of $5,000 during Give 8/28 to support the future of KBWC!

About the Carnegie Center

The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning is a community learning and literary arts center housed in Lexington’s historic 1902 Carnegie library. Since opening our red doors in 1992, the Carnegie Center has inspired and empowered people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and express their voices through imaginative learning and the literary arts. Through writing classes, author events, youth and family programs, tutoring, and outreach, the Carnegie Center provides opportunities for people to learn, create, connect, and share their stories.