Short Summary
We need support in order to bring you the 5th National RAWI
Conference with Mizna– three days of performances, readings, workshops, panels, a
film screening, a mixer, and a culminating celebration which will
include the Arab American Book Awards ceremony. The conference will
take place at Open Book in Minneapolis, MN, 9/18-20.
The conference is open to the public and will feature writers, artists, translators, editors, performers, and educators. This gathering will include a series of panels, workshops, and seminars on
the topic of writing and Arab American literature, readings and
performances, as well as several networking opportunities. As
part of our goal to foster and support new voices within Arab
American literature, we will be highlighting workshops and panels
designed specifically for emerging writers.
Who We Are
RAWI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) literary organization dedicated to
supporting and disseminating creative writing and scholarly writing by
Arab-Americans.
This time around, we are working with Mizna, an organization devoted to promoting Arab-American culture,
providing a forum for its expression.
What We Need
The Radius of Arab American Writers - RAWI - aims to raise
$5,000. These funds will be used to help support guest speakers, student
scholarships, and readings at the conference and beyond.
We are a 501 (c) (3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.
Why Is This An Important Event?
RAWI is the only national organization that provides mentoring, community, and support for Arab American writers.
Despite the fact that
Arab American voices continue to become more prominent, opportunities
for us to share our experiences and insights, as well as to discuss the
trajectory of Arab American
literature, is limited. Therefore, RAWI’s biennial conference provides a
rare opportunity to bring a large number of Arab American writers and
scholars (and their readers and admirers) into the same space so we can
engage in various dialogues otherwise unavailable to us.
The conference also
provides us the opportunity to continue our rapid growth and act as representatives of the literary arts in Arab America.
Who Are RAWI's Members?
Members of RAWI include Naomi Shihab Nye, Lawrence Joseph, Suheir Hammad,
Laila Lalami, Randa Jarrar, Khaled Mattawa, Mohja Kahf, Fady Joudah,
Etel Adnan, Steven Salaita, Sam Hazo, Rabih Alameddine, Elmaz Abinader,
and many more.
RAWI’s work has been
featured on the US Department of State website and has been covered by
the New York Times, Aramco World, and The Washington Report on Middle
East Affairs. Its members
have been featured in The Huffington Post, NPR, Guernica, PMLA (the
journal of the Modern Language Association), and elsewhere.
Our members have also been recognized by the Academy of American Poets,
the US State Department’s Arabic Book Program, and the National
Endowment for the Arts, as well as many state and regional
arts associations and councils.
Other Ways You Can Help
Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help: Please get the word out and make some noise about our campaign.
Thank you for supporting Arab-American voices!