Austin poet, Cave Canem graduate fellow, and Black Poets Speak Out co-founder Amanda Johnston has been a member of the Cave Canem Foundation community since 2005, first as a fellow, then as staff, and then as a member of the board of directors. On March 30, 2019, current board president Parneshia Jones will pass the role of president to Johnston.
“It’s amazing to find myself living the dream Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady, our founders, envisioned nearly 25 years ago,” Johnston wrote.”I am thankful for the many ways Cave Canem has supported my artistic and professional growth from the first day I showed up at the summer retreat. Ever since that day, I’ve dedicated myself in service to helping Cave Canem and our literary community so the next generation of Black poets can enter the same circle that has held me up … I’m excited to see what we’ll become as we continue to lift each other up in word and action.”
A 501-c-3 non-profit literary service organization with administrative and programming headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, Cave Canem has grown from a gathering of 26 poets to become an influential movement with a renowned faculty, high-achieving national fellowship of over 400 and a workshop community of 900.
Read our 2018 interview with Johnston here: https://www.lonestarliterary.com/node/1277