An update from Hurston/Wright Foundation 4/24/20
Dear Friends:
Our hearts are with everyone who has been impacted by the unfolding Corona Virus events—particularly those who have lost loved ones and those who are most at risk. As we all navigate these unprecedented times, we wanted to share the proactive steps we’ve taken at the foundation to ensure the safety of our team and update you on the status of our summer workshops.
We’ve taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the Hurston/Wright team. Our Washington, D.C. based team works remotely and all of our operational activities are now primarily conducted using virtual software.
We are actively monitoring COVID-19 and assessing its impact on our summer workshops. Though the trajectory of the pandemic is uncertain, we are taking steps now to mitigate and manage potential effects on both the June Writers Weekend and the August Writers Week Workshops. We were hopeful that both of these learning opportunities would include writers gathering together in person at Howard University as planned. However, it has become increasingly clear that our June Writers Weekend workshops will not take place as planned and will be converted to a virtual format. Those who have already submitted applications for the summer workshops will hear from us directly with more information about our contingency plans and how we will communicate updates with you in the coming weeks. Those who are interested in applying for the June Nonfiction Virtual Workshop with Clifford Thompson or the August Writers Week summer workshops can still apply online until May 11th.
We will share an update with all of you about whether or not we will proceed with the August Writers Week in-person summer workshops by May 18th. Though our plans are to proceed with both of these learning opportunities in some capacity regardless of whether we can gather together in person or not, we know it can still be a difficult decision to sign up to join us. If you have any questions or concerns about the summer workshops, please contact us at info@hurstonwright.org. We are committed to staying in touch and keeping you updated.
In the meantime, come celebrate the end of National Poetry Month with us. Join us next Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29th at 4PM EST. Celebrated poets Hanif Abdurraqib and Chet’la Sebree will host the first Hurston/Wright virtual micro-classes. These online micro classes are free and open to the public but registration is required.
Finally, we want to hear from you. How are you coping during these tough times? How might the foundation catalyze our resources to support Black writers? Though the realities of the coronavirus have posed challenges for Black writers and our work at the foundation, they have also presented us with a unique opportunity to harness our collective imaginations. We are eager to hear from you about the pressing needs you have and the helpful tools you’ve encountered for organizing virtual literary engagements. You can share your experiences here, or by clicking the link to the survey below. We are grateful for any ideas and reflections you share with us to help inform how we move forward.
We hope for comfort and good health for each of you and your loved ones. Although we are a small team, we are committed to exploring ways of supporting Black writers and nourishing opportunities for us all to lean into each other during these challenging times.
With Love,
The Hurston/Wright Team