Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative (KBWC)
A support center for aspiring Black writers around the state.
Are you a Black writer looking for guidance and opportunity?
Carnegie is offering classes at no charge to Black students in recognition of systemic racism, including in education and publishing, where Carnegie operates. Our goal is to welcome Black Kentucky residents to Carnegie, nurture their development, and remove financial obstacles for as long as needed.
All weekly classes and one-time classes at Carnegie are free to members of the Black Writers Collaborative. *
For more information on the KBWC or to register for a class, contact: Claudia Love Mair, KBWC Coordinator, ClaudiaLove@CarnegieCenterLex.org or JC McPherson, KBWC Associate, Jude@CarnegieCenterLex.org.
* Not included free of charge are the Author Academy, the Poetry Gauntlet, the Books in Progress Conference, Writer Mentoring, and Manuscript Review. There is separate financial support available for these programs.
KBWC Affiliated Classes
Writing & Publishing While Black
Black authors face special challenges in the publishing world, from blatant racism to microaggressions to dealing with the expectations of the publishing business, which is by and large centered in whiteness. Learn how you can succeed in writing and publishing while Black. Panelists: Claudia Love Mair, Crystal Wilkinson, makalani bandele, and Angela Jackson-Brown
This class is offered as a pre-recorded webinar. The link to the video and any accompanying materials will be emailed to you after registering.
Meet the Staff
KBWC Coordinator
Claudia Love Mair is the author of 13 books, including Mourning Pages: Working Through Grief the Write Way, due to release in October of 2023. She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University, and is the coordinator for the Carnegie Center’s Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative. Claudia Love lives with her daughter, and two cats, Batman and Gizmo, in Lexington, KY.
KBWC Associate
Col. JC McPherson, Kentucky Colonel Goodwill Ambassador, has a background in writing, electricity, and general troubleshooting. A recipient of the 2022-2023 National Leaders of Color Fellowship through South Arts, he is an associate for the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative, Creative Writing Instructor, and arts administrator. He is a member of the Affrilachian Poets and the author of numerous collections of poetry. He’s also a member of the Society of Baseball Research.
