COMMUNITY LITERATURE INITIATIVE
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Mission Statement
The mission of Community Literature Initiative (CLI) is to enable poets of color and those from underserved communities to have a voice through poetry and performance, and to share their narratives through published books. Although CLI’s poetry class works on the craft of writing and provides an outlet for sharing prose, it also encourages students to share their personal experiences and narratives. Often, the poetry illuminates’ stories about their neighborhood, community, and family experiences. CLI’s class can foster pride in where students come from, and students consistently embrace one another’s narratives, often recognizing themselves in each other’s stories. Ultimately, the Poetry class is about creating organic, culturally relevant literature, and distributing it among the community.
About This Cause
The Community Literature Initiative is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization focused on teaching writers in the city how to create poetry and fiction of a publishable quality. The CLI course is a 10-month (September to June) training program to refine works-in-progress into finalized manuscripts ready for publication. Classes were normally held at The University of Southern California, but have transitioned to online virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. At the conclusion of the program, all successful participants are guaranteed a first-book publishing contract with one of our partnering Los Angeles Small Presses. CLI staff and students teach free creative writing courses in local high schools. We also produce numerous accessible literary readings and performances in South Los Angeles and provide scholarship and internship opportunities in creative writing and publishing to inner-city youth. CLI also opened the Sims Library of Poetry, the first black-owned library of poetry on the west coast. Nested on Florence Avenue in Inglewood, it is a communal space for students, poets, creatives and Los Angeles residents to study, read, and become immersed in poetry. The outdoor lounge also provides an avenue for local events such as book releases, poetry readings, and open mics.