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A Guide to Giving: Sponsorship

Options for the

2020 National Black

Writers Conference

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE

The Center for Black Literature will present the 15th National Black Writers

Conference: “Activism, Identity, and Race: Playwrights, Screenwriters, and

Scriptwriters at the Crossroads,” a public gathering of writers, scholars, literary

professionals, performers, students and the general public. Over the last decade, we have

seen an increase in writing by Black playwrights, screenwriters, and scriptwriters. These

writers, at a crossroads, are focused on breaking new ground; creating bold new work in

theater, film, and television; and expanding the narrative of the Black experience in

America and throughout the African diaspora.

Their work provides a different lens or

a counternarrative that allows the

public to deepen its knowledge,

understanding, and perception of Black

literature and to re-examine its

assumptions, beliefs, and values about

the experiences faced by Blacks

throughout the diaspora. These writers

interrogate their interior lives and

collective experiences and document

their stories in a country where racism,

sexual violence, gender discrimination,

alienation, miseducation, immigration,

and cultural conflicts are very present.

Their writing provides a Black gaze

and represents stories that have not

been told and voices that have been

silenced or marginalized. The issues on

which they focus portray the core of the

human experience.

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Through panels, roundtable discussions, film screenings, dramatic readings, writing

workshops, and a town hall meeting, the general public, writers, scholars, and

performance artists will consider the following:

How do racial politics, societal injustices, and socioeconomic challenges influence

character, plot, and viewpoint in works by playwright, screenwriters, and

scriptwriters?

In what ways are Black playwrights, screenwriters, and scriptwriters providing

the Black gaze in the work they create?

How do gender and identity politics impact the plays supported and produced on

stage, the films produced in the theater, and the scripts created for television?

Do we need more complex and nuanced stories in theater, film, and television?

How has hip-hop culture influenced and shaped the plays, films, and television

scripts created by Black playwrights, screenwriters, and scriptwriters?

What are the trends in experimental theater and independent films by Black

playwrights and screenwriters?

What is the role of the media, critics, and reviewers in shaping the writing of

playwrights and screenwriters and in bringing the dramatic play to the stage and

the screenplay to the screen?

What are the current and future trends in plays, screenplays, and scripts written

by Black writers?

Speakers include: Sandra Adell, Keith Josef Adkins, Dasan Ahanu, Ngozi Anyanwu,

Radha Blank, Lisa Cortés, Kia Corthron, Imani Perry, Dominique Morisseau, Tracie

Morris, Stanley Nelson, Angela Nissel, NSangou Njikam, Carl Hancock Rux, Donja R.

Love, Amina Henry, Shay Youngblood, Antoinette Wandu, Aurin Squire, Richard Wesley,

Elizabeth Van Dyke, and many others.

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THE ROLE OF THE CENTER FOR BLACK LITERATURE AND

THE NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE

Both the Center for Black Literature and the

National Black Writers Conference are known

nationally and internationally for their work.

Initially inspired by the late John Oliver

Killens, the Conference has been held at

Medgar Evers College since 1986. Honorees

have included Toni Morrison, Derek Walcott,

Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Gwendolyn

Brooks, August Wilson, Rita Dove, Edwidge

Danticat, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka,

Ishmael Reed, Quincy Troupe, Walter Mosley,

Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Randall Robinson,

Kamau Brathwaite, Ngugi wa Thiong’o,

David Levering Lewis, Charles Johnson,

Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes among

many others. Each subsequent Conference is

built on the theme of the previous one,

attracting a national and international

audience.

The educational and literary programs

presented by the Center for Black Literature

focus on the ways in which the literary arts

and cultural values inform and influence the

work of Black writers and the culture at

large; serve as a vehicle for nurturing and

cultivating the critical reading and writing

habits of a cross-generation of readers and

writers; and demonstrate the Center’s

commitment to nurturing and supporting

emerging writers.

The impact of the experiences of participants

and attendees at the National Black Writers

Conference has been immeasurable and

unquestionable. The Conference is the

cornerstone of the College’s Center for Black

Literature’s vision for expanding the scope

and appreciation of literature and literary art

and scholarship produced by and about the

artists whose experiences, memoirs, stories,

imaginations, understandings, and visions

reflect the African diaspora. Geared toward

current and potential writers and scholars of

literary art, the Conference convenes

students, faculty, acclaimed authors, and

literary critics from across the diaspora, as

well as the general public. We are the only

Center devoted to this in the country, one that

acknowledges and celebrates the significance

of the works produced by literary pioneers

and emerging writers of the African diaspora.

Sponsorships will support the National Black

Writers Conference and the educational and

literary programs presented by the Center for

Black Literature at Medgar Evers College,

CUNY. By supporting the National Black

Writers Conference, you will help to keep a

rich tradition of recognizing and celebrating

the contributions and culture by writers and

poets of the African diaspora to American and

world literature.

You may be well aware of the challenges we

face as an organization committed to the

mission of providing the literary and cultural

arts to students, the general public and

community. Like many nonprofit

organizations, the Center accomplishes its

mission and sustains its programming

through raising funds from private and public

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We appreciate your support to make our Conference and programs a success. In the past, we

have received funding from the following organizations and individuals and have appreciated

their generous support:

● Amazon Literary Partnership

● Capital One

● ConEdison

● The Ford Foundation

● The Gladys Krieble

Delmas Foundation

● Humanities New York

● The National

Endowment for the Arts

● New-York Historical Society

● The Nathan

Cummings Foundation

● Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis

Hudson, Just Us Books

● Hachette Book Group

● Office of Brooklyn Borough

President Eric L. Adams

● Office of New York City

Council Member Inez Barron,

42nd District

● Office of New York City

Council Member Laurie A.

Cumbo, 35th District

● Brooklyn Delegation of

New York City Council

NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE TARGET

POPULATION

The target population for the Conference is an intergenerational and diverse audience

comprised of the general public, adolescents, academics, professionals and stakeholders in the

literary field and publishing industry. The Conference is widely promoted throughout the

CUNY educational system, which spans 24 campuses across New York’s five boroughs.

Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people will attend Conference activities over the four days.

Conference participants come from the tristate area; however, they also come from states such

as California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina,

Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia; and from countries in the Caribbean, Europe,

and Africa.

Target Demographics

• Audience Age: 18 – 60 years old • Gender: 65 percent female; 35 percent male • Race: African American / Afro-Caribbean / Latino

Heavy promotion focuses on the college-educated, postgraduate and professional sectors. In New York: 500,000 N.Y. / N.J. residents fit the demographic.

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NBWC SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

JOHN OLIVER KILLENS—PLATINUM PACKAGE $10,000 • Includes everything at the previous level, plus:

• Full-page Ad in NBWC Commemorative Program

• Additional six tickets/ entries to NBWC and VIP Reception

• Premium signage on stage (standing banners only)

• Mention on all marketing material (once agreement is made)

• Additional two items in gift bags / or participant folder

• Mention from the stage at NBWC

• One link from CBL website to theirs

• Press opportunities where applicable

• Two entries Saturday luncheon with authors

GWENDOLYN BROOKS—LEGACY PACKAGE $5,000 • Includes everything at the previous level, plus:

• Half-page Ad in NBWC Commemorative Program

• Additional two entries to NBWC and VIP Reception

• Mention on all marketing material (once agreement is made)

• Two items in gift bags / or participant folder

• Mention from the stage at NBWC

LANGSTON HUGHES—JUBILEE PACKAGE $3,000 • Sponsor a particular panel for the Conference; name of individual or

organization will be listed as a program sponsor.

• Two entries to NBWC and Benefit Banquet

• Digital signage (on TV monitor day of the conference) Mention from the stage at NBWC

MEDIA SPONSORSHIPS VARY

A media sponsor shares information about Center’s programs with an eBlast or placement with the organization’s shared calendar or newsletter or social media platform, or by community engagement and

outreach. Sponsorship covers the following costs: public relations and publicity; TV, print, radio, and Internet. Benefits:

• Half-page Ad in NBWC Commemorative Program

• Four entries to NBWC and VIP Reception

• Mention from the stage at NBWC

• One item in gift bag or attendee/participant folder

• One link from CBL website to theirs

SPONSORSHIPS COVER THE FOLLOWING COSTS: Participant honorarium, panel programming, workshops, author readings

All donations are exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501.3 of the Internal Revenue Code. To submit Sponsorship, please contact: Clarence V. Reynolds, 718-804-8881 or

Maēshay k. Lewis, Tel: 718-804-8882

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NBWC Pledge Form

Donor Information (please print or type)

Name

Billing address

City, ST Zip Code

Phone 1 | Phone 2

Fax | E-mail

Pledge Information

I (we) pledge a total of $____________________ to be paid or one of the following:

☐ John Olivier Killens - Platinum Package $10,000

☐ Langston Hughes- Legacy Package $5,000

☐ Gwendolyn Brooks- Jublilee Package $3,000

☐ Other _________________________________________________________________

I (we) plan to make this contribution in the form of: ☐check ☐credit card ☐other ☐online payment.

Credit card type | Exp. date

Credit card number

Authorized signature

Gift will be matched by (company/family/foundation) ___________________________________

☐ Form for match attached. / ☐ Form will be forwarded with donation. / ☐ Please forward an invoice for payment.

Acknowledgement Information

Please use the following name(s) in all acknowledgements: ___________________________

☐ I (we) wish to have our gift remain anonymous.

Signature(s) Date

Please make checks payable to: For Donations/ Individual Contributions

under $5,000 Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers

College, CUNY 1650 Bedford Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11225

For Donations over $5,000 (non-grants)

Medgar Evers College Educational Foundation/National Black Writers Conference

Medgar Evers College 1150 Carroll St., Suite 400

Brooklyn, NY 11225

To submit Sponsorship, please contact: Clarence V. Reynolds, Tel: 718-804-8881; CReynolds@mec.cuny.edu

Maēshay k. Lewis, Tel: 718-804-8882; MLewis@mec.cuny.edu

https://centerforblackliterature.com/sponsorship-options-nbwc-2020/

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Center for Black Literature Staff

Brenda M. Greene, Conference Director, Founder and Executive Director, CBL E-mail: bgreene@mec.cuny.edu

Clarence V. Reynolds, Conference

Coordinator, Director of CBL E-mail: creynolds@mec.cuny.edu; Phone: 718-804-8881

Maēshay k. Lewis, Logistics Coordinator

E-mail: mlewis@mec.cuny.edu;

Phone: 718-804-8882

Ayana Kone, Bookkeeper/Accounting Assistant, CBL

E-mail: akone@mec.cuny.edu;

Phone: 718-804-8884

Sharrell Williams, Digital Marketing Associate,

CBL

E-mail: shawilliams@mec.cuny.edu;

Phone: 718-804-8885

Kira Ollivierra, Grants Assistant, CBL

E-mail: kollivierra@mec.cuny.edu;

Phone: 718-804-8883

The Center for Black Literature Advisory Board

Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Founder and Executive

Director

Dr. Dale Allender, National Council of Teachers

of English

Patrick A. Buddington, IMC Media Group

Rev. Dr. Shelia Evans-Tranumn, National and

International Education Consultant

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, U.S House of

Representative, D-NY, 8th District

Richard Jones Jr., Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Dr. Valerie Kinloch, University of Pittsburgh,

School of Education

Dr. Louise Mirrer, New-York Historical Society

C. Zawadi Morris, The Brooklyn Reader

Jerald Posman

Lawrence Schiller Jr, The Norman Mailer

Institute

Richard Wesley, New York University

Marcia White, Personalized Skincare

John Edgar Wideman, Author and Professor

Emeritus at Brown University

Cheryl Wills, Spectrum News, NY1

Schawannah Wright

The mission of the Center for Black Literature is to

expand, broaden, and enrich the public’s knowledge

and aesthetic appreciation of the value of Black

literature. For more information about The Center for

Black Literature and CBL events and programs, please

visit us online at www.centerforblackliterature.org.

Find the Center for Black Literature on Social Media:

Facebook: Center for Black Literature;

Twitter: @Center4BlackLit; and Instagram: @Center4BlackLit.