Annual
2025–26
Report
Our mission is to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature.
32,000 READERS ENGAGED
1,950 WRITERS SUPPORTED
4,500 YOUTH INSPIRED
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Literary Arts
INTRODUCTION
WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR
When 8,500 people show up for the Portland Book Festival, there is the shared joy of discovery and a celebration of the way stories connect us. There is also a sense that we can, as a community, defend free speech and uplift the arts in a way that will lead to our city’s revival. When thousands gather in downtown Portland, it’s an expression of values at a civic level, and it signals a protective gesture for writers in our community and nationwide. Last year, Literary Arts opened The Susan Hammer Center, one of the largest centers for literature in the United States. It’s a statement of our values, and sends a strong message about who we aspire to be. More than seven hundred adults spent their evenings and weekends here in writing workshops and seminars; over four thousand high school students engaged in our events and workshops; and tens of thousands of readers gathered in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, park blocks, and bookstore to hear from remarkable storytellers from all backgrounds and walks of life. Literary Arts remains committed to building community through literature, and to doing so by meeting you where you are. Whether it’s at our largest concert hall, connecting one-on-one at a bookstore event, or broadcasting our events to a national listening audience, we will continue to create joyful programs, as well as space for serious conversations about our most complex challenges. Thank you for being a part of our work.
Andrew Proctor
2025-26 Annual Report
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Executive Director
“The stories a society tells about itself are not decorative. They are structural. They determine who is visible and who is erased, what is grievable and what is not, and which experiences are recognized as belonging to the common human inheritance. ” SCOT NAKAGAWA 3
YEAR IN REVIEW
The Susan Hammer Center Literary Arts’ building—The Susan Hammer Center— is a vibrant hub for readers, writers, and community members in Portland’s Central Eastside neighborhood. The space boasts a cafe and bookstore, greeting visitors with the aroma of fresh coffee and over 14,000 books for readers of all ages, interests, and tastes. The Literary Arts Bookstore is not only the entry point to the organization, but a welcoming neighborhood destination that stands as a gathering space for author readings, write-ins, and community activations. Beyond serving as a literary center for the community, The Susan Hammer Center has classrooms for writing workshops and seminars, a podcast studio, staff offices, and a flexible event space that offers a seated capacity of seventy-five with standing room for an additional twentyfive to forty guests. Our very location creates community.
4,639 attendees at events, 554 books sold at events, 1,322 Richard Scarry Inciardi mini-prints sold, 15 events focused on writing and craft, and 32,000+ purchases made at the bookstore and cafe
We introduce new community members to Literary Arts by telling the story of: • The authors and community partners we support and uplift. • The breadth of our programming. • The microcosm of our neighborhood.
We do this through events like: • Murder in the Bookstore immersive writing event with LitMic • Monthly crafting events with SCRAP • Think Out Loud taping with Elizabeth Gilbert in conjunction with Portland Arts & Lectures
• Our customers and friends who regularly spend time in the bookstore & cafe. 4
Literary Arts
RETAIL SPACES
Center: Customer peruses the bookstore. Right: Customers read in the Toni Morrison Commons.
BOOKSTORE BEST SELLERS 2025 –26 One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This Omar El Akkad
A Larger Reality Ursula K. Le Guin
I Who Have Never Known Men Jacqueline Harpman
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Book of Cats Ursula K. Le Guin
Strange Houses: A Novel Uketsu
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“The booksellers and staff remember me and ask for my feedback, so I feel adjacent to what is happening here like I am a part of the organization and my opinions matter.” YUNA BOOKSTORE & CAFE REGULAR
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
LITERARY ARTS CAFE: BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD AND STORIES In 2025, we opened the doors to the Mendoza Cafe with the vision to create a neighborhood hub for books, coffee, and community. Named after Josie Mendoza, a former Oregon Arts commissioner and longtime Literary Arts supporter, the cafe carries forward this vision in honor of her legacy and the lasting impact she made on our mission. AJ Gravatt, the cafe’s food and beverage manager, and her team have crafted a thoughtful menu with scratchmade dishes inspired by family memories. For AJ, creating and preparing meals with intention is an act of nourishment, rooted in community and storytelling. As we celebrate the first year of the Mendoza Cafe, we invite you to come in for a seasonal special or any of our menu items and learn about the stories behind them. We recommend the fancy grilled cheese, a cherished food from AJ’s childhood and a favorite among cafe regulars. Like every part of Literary Arts, the Mendoza Cafe exists to bring people together, reminding us that some of the best stories begin around a shared table.
Patrons sit on the mezzanine enjoying drinks from the cafe below.
CAFE BEST SELLERS
490
451
DAILY SOUPS
PROSCIUTTO, EGG & CHEESE
367
352
CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
FANCY GRILLED CHEESES
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“As a person who toes the line of introverted and extroverted, this feels like a place built for those types of people.” ELAYNA BOOKSTORE & CAFE REGULAR Literary Arts
RETAIL SPACES
SYRUPS CREATED FROM SCRATCH • Cinnamon plum • Lemon thyme • Miso caramel • Maple sage • Lavender blueberry • Carrot cake • Spicy ginger
Patrons read and study with coffee and pastries from the Mendoza Cafe.
Barista Allura pours a beverage.
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
30,000 Readers Engaged PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES Thousands of subscribers and hundreds of high school students gathered at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for this season’s series. The lineup included Elizabeth Gilbert, Percival Everett, Colm Tóibín, Imani Perry, and Patrick Radden Keefe. In addition to the series, authors engaged with readers and writers at The Susan Hammer Center and local high schools in Portland.
2,327 annual subscribers
453 donations to Youth Programs
“It was terrific to meet such an engaged cohort of readers, as well as high school journalism students and local writers, and the Literary Arts team made sure that everything was orchestrated without a hitch. Writing can, by necessity, be a lonely enterprise, so it is a luxury, and a galvanizing one, to be immersed in such a vibrant community. Thanks for having me.” PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE 8
Literary Arts
READERS
THE ARCHIVE PROJECT Our radio show and podcast The Archive Project broadcasts a wide range of Literary Arts programming from the Portland Arts & Lectures series, Portland Book Festival, Everybody Reads, Verselandia!, and much more. Our twelfth season premiered in November 2025. In May 2026, we featured a three-episode series on the past, present, and future of monuments and public art in Portland as part of the Portland Monuments Project.
Listen every Sunday at 7 p.m. on OPB radio and subscribe where you get your podcasts.
SPECIAL EVENTS Literary Arts was honored to host special events with nationally renowned authors and thinkers. In fall 2025, we hosted journalist Timothy Snyder, author of On Freedom; former Vice President Kamala Harris for her 107 Days tour. In spring 2026 we hosted our first event at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton with NPR’s Planet Money, featuring host Kenny Malone, author of the Planet Money book, Alex Mayyasi, and Jolyn Chen and Louis Lin from Portland restaurant Xiao Ye.
Top: Guests gather at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for Patrick Radden Keefe’s Portland Arts & Lectures event. Center: Supreme Court Justice Dr. Ketanji Brown Jackson in conversation with Newbery Award winner and Literary Arts board member, Renée Watson for Everybody Reads 2026. 2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
EVERYBODY READS
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
In partnership with the Multnomah County Library and The Library Foundation, this year’s Everybody Reads program featured Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and her memoir Lovely One. The library distributed more than 8,000 free copies of Lovely One. The e-book and audiobook copies were checked out at least 3,100 times. While visiting Portland, Justice Jackson met with 170 students at Jefferson and Parkrose high schools.
• Portland Book Festival lineup featured more than 47% BIPOC presenters (on-stage authors, moderators, and pop-up authors). • Free and reduced-price tickets were offered for all programs, including through Arts for All and the Multnomah County Library’s Discovery Pass programs. • Portland Arts & Lectures and Special Events featured 13 BIPOC presenters this season.
PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL On Saturday, November 8, 2025, more than 8,500 book lovers of all ages filled the Portland Art Museum and neighboring venues in downtown Portland to hear from renowned and debut authors. Presenters included Stacey Abrams, Emma Donoghue, Omar El Akkad, Angela Flournoy, Jasmine Guillory, Jill Lepore, Susan Orlean, Rebecca Yarros, and more. The day also featured food trucks, an exhibitor fair, and pop-up readings in the Portland Art Museum galleries.
Dustin Thao, Alanna Bennett, and Danielle Bylund on stage at Portland Book Festival.
Portland Book Festival
8,500
133
274
PRESENTERS
VOLUNTEERS
6
10
80
VENUES
STAGES
EXHIBITORS
ATTENDEES
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Literary Arts
READERS
A Portland Book Festival volunteer walks by the queue for a festival event.
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How magical and energizing can one day be? I experienced such an affirming day at Portland Book Festival 2025. It was a day of reflection, laughter, meeting people in signing lines, and being fully present as readers and thinkers. 2025 PBF PRESENTER MEGHA MAJUMDAR, AUTHOR OF A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF & WINNER OF THE 2026 ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
1,950 Writers Supported OREGON BOOK AWARDS The 2026 Oregon Book Awards finalists included thirty-five titles in seven categories, selected from 200 submissions by out-of-state judges. Kimberly King Parsons hosted the 39th annual Oregon Book Awards ceremony, held in-person on April 20, 2026, at Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The ceremony included the announcement of the Oregon Book Award winners and a presentation of the Stewart Holbrook Literary Legacy Award to Willamette Writers. 200 books submitted, 35 finalists recognized and celebrated, and 498 books donated to 25 libraries across Oregon
OREGON BOOK AWARD AUTHOR EVENTS The Oregon Book Awards Author Tour visited seven towns for readings and discussions. We also hosted two readings with finalists at the Literary Arts Bookstore at 716 SE Grand Ave. 12 authors visited 7 towns
Center: Kimberly King Parsons hosts the Oregon Book Awards Ceremony. Right: Judith Barrington signs copies of her book, Virginia’s Apple, winner of the 2026 Sarah Winnemucca Award for Creative Nonfiction.
Baker City, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Enterprise, Newport, Pendleton, Port Orford
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“I feel deeply humbled and grateful to Literary Arts for honoring me with this fellowship. [It] not only gives me a sense of validation as a writer but also encourages me to continue honing my craft and to not be afraid of exploring different craft forms as well.” POOJA NUKALA, 2026 OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT Literary Arts
WRITERS
2026 OREGON BOOK AWARD WINNERS Ken Kesey Award for Fiction Ling Ling Huang of Portland, Immaculate Conception (Dutton)
Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry Jennifer Perrine of Portland, Beautiful Outlaw (Kelsey Street Press)
Frances Fuller Victor Award for General Nonfiction Leah Sottile of Portland, Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age (Hachette Book Group/ Grand Central Publishing)
Sarah Winnemucca Award for Creative Nonfiction Judith Barrington of Portland, Virginia’s Apple: Collected Memoirs (Oregon State University Press)
Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature Michelle Sumovich of Portland, I Have Three Cats (Penguin Random House)
Leslie Bradshaw Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature Rosanne Parry of Portland, A Wolf Called Fire (Greenwillow/HarperCollins)
Award for Graphic Literature David F. Walker of Portland, Big Jim and the White Boy (Ten Speed Graphic)
SPECIAL AWARDS The Stewart H. Holbrook Literacy Legacy Award Willamette Writers of Portland, Oregon
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIPS
EVENTS FOR WRITERS
The 2026 fellowships received 439 writer applications and thirteen publisher submissions. Over several months, a panel of out-of-state judges evaluated each application, selecting recipients based on literary excellence.
We hosted our ongoing resident series featuring local and emerging writers: INCITE, One Page Wednesday, Slamlandia, and the BIPOC Reading Series. 2,439 audience members attended 50 events with 9 community partners and 104 presenting artists
2 writers awarded Oregon Literary Career fellowships of $10,000 each, one specifically for a writer of color 8 Oregon writers and 2 Oregon publishers awarded fellowships of $4,000 each, for a total of 12 fellowships awarded
WRITERS FORUMS As part of their visit to Portland, Arts & Lectures writers met with thirty-two current and former fellowship recipients and book awards authors for hour-long Q&A sessions.
2026 OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS Devon Fredericksen
Diana Oropeza
Jeffree Morel
Nonfiction
Poetry
Drama
Oregon Literary Career Fellowship
Oregon Literary Career Fellowship
C.H. Hamilton Bailey Fellowship
Amy Marcott
Molly Reid
Casey Walker
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction
Laurell Swails and Donald Monroe Memorial Fellowship
Women Writers Fellowship
Laurell Swails and Donald Monroe Memorial Fellowship
Jeremy Klemin
Jason Sepac
Jae Nichelle
Nonfiction
Nonfiction
Poetry
Leslie Bradshaw Fellowship
Walt Morey Fellowship
Writer of Color Fellowship
Pooja Nukala
Oregon Literary Fellowship for Publishers
Young Readers Edna L. Homes Fellowship in Young Readers
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Airlie Press Provecho Magazine Literary Arts
WRITERS
Charlotte Chipperfield teaches a writing class at 716 SE Grand Ave.
WRITING CLASSES Writers honed their craft and explored a variety of genres in our classes, including autofiction, memoir, novel writing, and poetry. Classes met in-person and online throughout the year. 629 students participated in 70 classes
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY • 33% of 2026 OBA judges identified as BIPOC • 50% of 2026 OLF judges identified as BIPOC • 21% of writing teachers identified as BIPOC • 83 students in writing classes and readers seminars received an access tuition scholarship
DELVE READERS SEMINARS Delve participants gathered weekly to read and discuss works by Toni Morrison, T.S. Eliot, Barbara Kingsolver, and other writers. 226 readers participated in 20 Readers Seminars
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
4,500 Youth Inspired VERSELANDIA! AND EAST SIDE SLAM On April 30, Verselandia! brought together poets from Portland and east Multnomah County high schools to compete for the title of Grand Slam Champion. The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall was filled with educators, friends, family and community members to hear the students perform. Poet Julia Gaskill hosted the event.
22 students from 12 schools performed to an audience of 908 for a top prize of $1,000
The East Side Slam, also hosted by Julia Gaskill, gave students from east Multnomah and Clackamas counties the chance to compete for the evening’s top prize of $500. The East Side Slam was held at Nelson High School with an audience of friends, families, and educators. Seven poets from Nelson and Parkrose high schools participated, and the two finalists advanced to compete in Verselandia! the following month.
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“It was truly an amazing experience to see Kamala Harris last night. She is such an influential figure and role model, and I really appreciate you giving us tickets. I will remember this forever!” GRANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
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Literary Arts
YOUTH
Left: Student poet Mila Gomes performs at Verselandia! Right: A school bus arrives to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
AUTHOR VISITS, EVERYBODY READS, AND STUDENTS TO THE SCHNITZ Hundreds of students engaged with seven world-class authors in the concert hall and classroom during our fortyfirst season of events. 885 students attended lectures, and 605 students attended author visits, which we held at McDaniel, Grant, Woodburn, Lincoln, Parkrose, and Jefferson high schools. Youth Programs continued to partner with OPB’s Think Out Loud to combine the live interviews with author visits, giving students the opportunity to ask questions to renowned authors and Dave Miller.
748 free books provided to students who attended lecture events and author visits, $9,918 in books covered by Literary Arts, 579 youth attended the Portland Book Festival for free
2025-26 Annual Report
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YEAR IN REVIEW
WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS (WITS)
COLLEGE ESSAY EXCHANGE
We partnered with twenty-four educators at eleven public high schools throughout the year serving students in Creative Writing, Russian Immersion, Language Arts, English Language Development, Vocal Justice, and Biology.
The College Essay Exchange offered twenty-eight sessions for high school juniors and seniors to work on their college application and scholarship essays with community volunteers. 487 students from nine Portland and Woodburn area high schools received support from eighty-nine volunteers to draft and edit their college application materials.
971 students served in 41 classes, 17 professional writers hired, 57 students published in the student anthology With All This, I Live / Con Todo Esto Vivo, 11 more students published in the digital student chapbook In the Spiral of the Sun
Volunteers come from all walks of life and share a dedication to positively impacting the lives of young people. Literary Arts provides training and guiding documents to prepare volunteers to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY • 47% students served identify as BIPOC • 50% of WITS writers identify as BIPOC • 40% of College Essay Exchange student participants self-identified as first-generation
College Essay Exchange at McDaniel High School.
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Literary Arts
YOUTH
A student and volunteer work together at a College Essay Exchange session.
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“[The volunteers] were very nice and helpful. It can be stressful to navigate college applications by myself, but the volunteer I worked with helped me relax a bit.” LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
2025-26 Annual Report
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STAFF HIGHLIGHT
Meet AJ Gravatt A transplant from a coastal town in Florida, Food and Beverage Manager AJ Gravatt has spent the last year bringing the Mendoza Cafe from a vision to fruition. She and her team have created a delicious cafe menu from scratch and defined what it means to run a cafe at a 40-year-old literary nonprofit.
AJ’s love and expertise for the food and beverage industry spans well over a decade; her thoughtfulness behind each menu item stemming from a place of nostalgia. “The menu is deeply rooted in comfort, from both memories of my childhood to things I love to eat. I want to emanate the same feeling when I am curled up on a couch with my favorite book,” she shared. The intentionality behind each dish goes beyond the dynamic flavor profile. Her care in centering BIPOC/ Women owned vendors such as Upper Left Coffee Roasters, Jen’s Pastries, and OKAPI, elevates the dishes and centers Portland’s robust food scene. The team has been instrumental in bringing The Susan Hammer Center to life with their creativity, passion, and conversations with the community. “I have stated many times that I believe food and storytelling are parallel; there is no recipe that is created without an experience behind it.” It’s evident that AJ exemplifies what storytelling can look like beyond the traditional mediums, through her and her team’s culinary skills. We’re grateful for AJ’s leadership and the cafe staff for their exemplary commitment to the Literary Arts mission and the Central Eastside community.
MENDOZA CAFE The Mendoza Cafe was named after former Wordstock Board member and Literary Arts supporter, Josie Mendoza. Josie was a strong advocate for Spanish‑language programming and Latinx writers through the growth of Literary Arts and Portland Book Festival.
AJ Gravatt, Food & Beverage Manager. 20
Learn more about the named spaces at The Susan Hammer Center at lit-arts.org/named-spaces. Literary Arts
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
From left to right: Lisa Hill, Molly Ishkanian, and Laurie Walker of Weinstein PR.
A Partnership Built on Storytelling Molly Ishkanian, President of Weinstein PR and one of Literary Arts’ newest board members, first connected with us as an admirer and audience member. Her experience at a Pop-Up Magazine event in 2022 prompted her to reach out to Executive Director, Andrew Proctor, moved by an evening of storytelling and community, to offer support to the organization. This connection led to a relationship with Molly and Weinstein PR, as we entered The Campaign for Literary Arts. Molly and her team, Laurie Walker and Lisa Hill, have been instrumental in bringing to life The Susan Hammer Center, expanding the Portland Book Festival and planning for the launch of the Ursula K. Le Guin Writers Residency. “Literary Arts offers something wholly unique to Portland. It does not just reflect the city’s creative life, it helps shape it,” Molly said. “It gives us a place to gather, to listen, to wrestle with ideas, to celebrate writers, and to build our own story of who we are becoming.” We are deeply grateful for the work and partnership with the entire Weinstein PR team and look forward to Molly’s leadership on the board in this next chapter of Literary Arts.
2025-26 Annual Report
“I often laugh because the members of our team at WPR are such natural storytellers, and now we have the privilege of telling the story of the organization that helps others tell theirs. It is all very meta, in the best possible way.” MOLLY ISHKANIAN PRESIDENT, WEINSTEIN PR
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YEAR IN REVIEW
Bookmark: Thank You Thank you to the generous donors who raised more than $1,200,000 at our annual Bookmark Gala on October 23, 2025!
Save the date: Bookmark 2026 will take place on Thursday, October 8, at the Portland Art Museum.
Left: Olufunke Grace Bankole, author of The Edge of Water and winner of the Westport Prize for Literature, speaks at Bookmark 2025. Center: from left to right, Amy Donohue, Principal at Bora Architecture and former Board Chair, Jill Sherman, Co-Founder of Edlen & Co., and Ginnie Cooper, long-time Board Member, honored at Bookmark for their efforts during The Campaign for Literary Arts. 22
Literary Arts
BOOKMARK
Top: Anis Mojgani performs at Bookmark 2025. Bottom: Verselandia! student poet Gio Calandrella performs at Bookmark 2025.
2025-26 Annual Report
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
Looking Toward Le Guin In 2027, we will honor Ursula K. Le Guin—one of Oregon’s most accomplished writers— by transforming her home into a residency program.
Ursula K. Le Guin was a writer of the highest caliber who both delighted and challenged a global audience of readers. Her lived values as an artist and citizen are an example to us all. By transforming the home where she lived and wrote for more than fifty years into a writers residency, Literary Arts will honor Le Guin’s contributions to our state and national literary heritage and preserve a culturally significant place for our community. Once established, Literary Arts will operate the residency and welcome writers from around the world to Portland, Oregon.
Left: Ursula K. Le Guin. Right: The front of the Le Guin home in Portland.
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Literary Arts
WRITERS RESIDENCY
Ursula’s writing room/office at the Ursula K. Le Guin house.
“Collaboration and homecoming are at the heart of Ursula’s writing. Although her reputation is international, she focused much of her energy on the local community of writers, libraries, and literary organizations. So, it’s fitting that this residency, ambitious in the breadth of writers it reaches, is nevertheless rooted in the house and city she loved and lived in for a half century.” THEO DOWNES-LE GUIN LITERARY EXECUTOR OF THE LE GUIN ESTATE & LITERARY ARTS CAMPAIGN MEMBER
2025-26 Annual Report
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SPECIAL THANKS
Literary Arts Supporters THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP CIRCLE SUPPORTERS Gifts made between 06/01/2025–05/31/2026.
DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE $25,000+
Priscilla Bernard Wieden in loving memory of Dan Wieden Tim & Mary Boyle Wendy Burden Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke Ginnie Cooper & Rick Bauman Roberta & Raymond Davis Marilyn Epstein Dean & Alison Freed Elizabeth & Thomas Gewecke Betsy & Tom Henning Mary Hirsch Hugh Mackworth in memory of Josie Mendoza Carolyn McKinney Jan & Steve Oliva Amy Prosenjak & Steven Guy Bob Scanlan Rocky & Julie Strasser Dixon Debra Turner Hatcher Swigert-Warren Foundation SUSTAINER'S CIRCLE $10,000-24,999
Rebecca & Michael DeCesaro Darren & Louise Demetre The Eberwein Family Cheryl Francis & Sam Tannahill Patricia Frobes & Richard Smith Jonathan & Jen Hill John Holloran & Rick Rees Mark Holloway & David Kahl Maurice & Dori King Molly Kohnstamm* Jonathan & Sheila Levine Edwards Lienhart Family Foundation Jenny & Carter MacNichol Katherine O’Neil & Toby Graff Judith Peterman Diane Ponti & Ward Greene Raymond Family Foundation
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Andrew Rowe & Bennett Burns Starr Thomas Family Foundation Kristin & Nicholas Walrod Marcia & Tom Wood Sue Wright CONTRIBUTOR'S CIRCLE $5,000-9,999
Jill & Ken Abere Ray & Jean Auel Nik Blosser & Deborah Kafoury Emi & Brett Donis Amy Donohue & Paul McKean Theodore & Nancy Downes-Le Guin Fong Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Carrie Watson Legacy Fund Bob Geddes Janet Hoffman & John Harland Kaye Family Fund Barbara & Jock Kimberley Adam & A’Nova Lane Carole Leita Brandon Lenzi Indira & Murali Nallakrishnan Irene Parikhal & Ian Yolles The Franklin and Dorothy Piacentini Charitable Trust Andrew & Veronica Proctor Halle & Rick Sadle Snyder Charitable Fund Donald & Roslyn Sutherland Geoffrey Tichenor & Stephanie Engelsman Nicholas & Kristin Walrod Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Jackie & Bill Willingham Carl Wilson & Evan Boone Beverly S. Wong Charlene Zidell
SUPPORTER’S CIRCLE $2,500-4,999
Anonymous Robert & Julia Ball Ethel and Robert Berney and Sons Philanthropic Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation Kermit Chamberlin & Connie Christopher* Gustavo Cruz Gun Denhart Sue & Ed Einowski Kenneth Golsan Linda & Ronald Greenman Nancy & Ron Gronowski Sara & Andrew Guest Ken & Paula Hale Susan Hathaway-Marxer & Larry Marxer Molly Ishkanian Susheela Jayapal Helen & Scott Langley Caroline Le Guin Heather Mahoney Barbara & Michael Maloney Nancy & Dick Ponzi Robert Sacks J. Schuberth & John Urang Bob Speltz & Dwight Adkins LaToya Thomas Margaret & Tom Tuchmann Stephanie Vance Amy Wayson & Ken Moran Kathleen L. Wilson
Literary Arts
OUR SUPPORTERS
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL SUPPORTERS Gifts made between 06/01/2025–05/31/2026. INDIVIDUALS $1,000+
Drew Abel Bethany Bacci Catherine Bekooy Maria Bezaitis & Jason Nims Kim & Daniel Bissell Sandra & Ben Bole Peter & Ellen Bragdon Peter Bromka Jim Brunberg Shelly & Paul Buchanan Paul Burkhart Karyle Butcher Elizabeth Cameron Meghan Carlton Carol Cheney Craig Child Janie & Richard Cohen Joan Corcoran Chris & Kelly Criglow Jeff Cronn Eloise Damrosch & Gary Hartnett Kathy Deggendorfer Margaret Dillender Anne Donovan Kelly Douglas & Eric Schoenstein Penny & Ken Durant Diane Engelhard Ellen Fader Mary & Emmett J. Finneran James Nowlan Fowler Holly Freres Sarah Gibbon Bob & Lesley Glasgow April Glister Lois Gold & Richard Forester Susan Greenebaum Kristin & Avery Guest Deborah Habel & Bruce Gulliver Nancy & Charlie Hales James Hampton Thaddeus & Amy Hanscom Ben Harris
2025-26 Annual Report
Laura & Rocky Henderson Steven & Deborah Hewitt Wynne Molly Hiro & Lars Erik Larson Edna L. Holmes Literary Arts Fund Holmgren Family Giving Fund Terri & Robert Hopkins Gretchen & Gary Hull Lauren Isaac Barbara Jennings & Richard Teutsch Fund Shobha Jetmalani & Alex Burt Laura Jones & David Livermore Laura Kerr Janice & Mark Kettler Bruce & Susan Kilgore BettyLou Koffel William & Emmy Lawrence Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Tim & Kathryn Mahaffy Katherine McCoy Murray & Pat McKean Richard H. Meeker & Ellen F. Rosenblum Brenda Meltebeke & Scott Stuart Rich Meneghello Jan & Ed Murphy Laura Murphy Maureen Murphy Neilsen Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Cabe & Brittany Nicksic Corrine Oishi & Lindley Morton Katelyn Oldham Wendy Beth Oliver Beverly Ormseth Christina Orr & Nicholas Clarke Joy & Wylie Overstreet Heather Paulson
Geoff Peters Laurie Price Per Ramfjord Patricia Reser Jack Roberts Sarah Rothenfluch Molly Saguto Katharine Sammons Marcy Schwartz Robyn & Kemp Shuey Virginia Siemsen Nell & William Simkoff Allison Sneider Merri Souther Wyatt Charitable Fund Lynne Strasfeld Stoll Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Nancy & Bo Sullivan James Thommes & Marty Majchrowicz Michael Tingley Jeanne Tobey & Shannon Spence Chabre Vickers Liz & Jason Walker Kristi Wallace Knight & Eric Wallace Andrea Ward Kim Weyler Cindy Williams Gutierrez & Michael Kirshner Susan Winkler Kelly Wodtke Josh Wong $500+
Geraldine Abere Kassie Alderson & Michael Ward Tracey Allen Donald Andersen Lizzie Angel Arthur and Laura J. Baden Family Fund Karin Barber
Danielle Beauvais Broughton and Mary Bishop Foundation Mayno Blanding Colleen & Richard Blohm Jonathan Bloomfield Jodie Brauer Ramona & Bruce Cahn Jane Carlsen & Dan Balmer Julie & Jim Carter Brent & Barbara Chalmers Bonnie Comfort Anne Conway & Lou Baslaw Marian Creamer Gail Crider Timothy Crippen & Laura Jordan Marvin & Abby Dawson Jennifer Director Knudsen & David Knudsen Deborah Edward Amy Edwards Ken & Ann Edwards Shauna Ensminger Julie Falk David & Kendra Farris Dan Feiner Kassim Ferris Sheryl Fullerton Scott Gallagher Adrienne Gillespie Elinor Gollay Laura Gordon Cathy Greenblatt Jason & Heidi Haggart Candace Haines Hilary Harrison Nancy Hayes Ned Hayes Susan & Rainer Hummel Pam & Bill Hurst Jeremy & Jenny Huwe Kay & James Irwin Melinda & Jim Jackson Edith Jensen James D. Lang & Sally Lang
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SPECIAL THANKS
INDIVIDUALS (CONTINUED)
Kevin Machiz & Julietta Bekker Lynn Marshall & Spiros Koyanis J.S. May Carol McConnell & Robert Hatt Jenny McGuire Sanford Menashe Susan & Peter Mersereau Violet Metzler Lora Meyer Miller Family Giving Fund Heather Miller The O L Moore Foundation Susan Moore & Phil Ottum Meghan Moran & Kirk Masterson Marjory Morford David Morganstern & Elizabeth Ash Paul Mueller Deanna & Wilfried Mueller-Crispin Jamie Newell Mario Nicholas Amy O’Neill & Larry Staver Cadence Petros Jennifer Phillippi Naomi & Steve Price Hannah Pscheid Bonnie & Pete Reagan Alysa Rose & David Finkelman Charles Rosenblum Kendra Rothert Nadja Sailesman Jeffrey D. Sapiro Charitable Fund Jeffrey & Lea Scherer Diana Schmidt Steve & Sarah Schubert Joyce Schwer Shirley Skidmore & Ron Quant Talie & Scott Smith Virginia Smith
Abigail L. Solomon & Eric Abrams Tullan Spitz Dedrick Sprick David Staehely Kathleen Swift Britton Taylor Thoeresz Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation Dr. Christopher Thoming & Vanessa McLaughlin Sara Turner Jane E. Unger Stephanie & John Volkman Mary Ann & Tom Walker Lorie Wigle Aaron & Jennifer Wines Kathryn Wood Holmes & Charles Henrikson Morton Zalutsky $250+
Kori Allen Kris Anderson Saba Anvery Joan Baldwin Tim & Lisa Bazemore Howard Beckerman Anne Bentley Dan Berne Eleanor & Richard Berry Kate Berube Lynn Boe Larry & Marie Brigham Joan Brinkley Smith Larry Bruton Joan K. Burns & Thomas B. Seibert Nina Byrd Michael Campbell Ann Carter & Thomas Palmer Becky Chinn Clark Family Philanthropic Fund Liana M. Colombo Bethanne Darby
Chad Darby India Downes-Le Guin Paul Duden & Francesca Stevenson Justin Dune & Carol Sanders Erica Dunn & Phil Harris Rachel Effros Ann & Ron Emmerson Jon Feldman Sarah Felix & Susan Fry Timothy & Pamela Fleischmann Gabrielle Foulkes Julie Frantz Jennifer Froistad Victoria Gelber Lisa & Glen Giovannetti Marnie Gleason Katie Gold Gray Family Foundation Lynn Green Elizabeth Grulke Shauna Hahn Charles Hale Oscar Harrison Mayer Tom & Janice Harvey Janie & Gary Hibler Emily Hicks Charitable Fund Gaynor Hills John & Susan Hoover Albert Horn & Nancy Goodwin Lisa Howlett Joe Hull & Elicia Harrell Kathleen Huntington Kathi Inman Berens & Brad Berens Jill Jarrett Peter & Anne Jarvis Frances Jensen Chris Mack Kathryn Madison & Jeffrey Wertz Richard & Elizabeth Marantz Susannah Mars-Johnson Marsie Martien Julie & John McAllister
Melinda & Don McCoy Katherine McDowell & Kenneth Lerner Sandra Mico Middleton Family Fund Mary Monnat Claudia Montagne Emily Moon Mark & Jessica Moore Clint & Donna Moran Eileen Odum Alfred & Eileen Ono Christine Pallier Peter Pappas & Nancy Kelly Rowena Paz Norman & Luke Norman Katie & Richard Peterson Alison & Richard Petralia Judy & Alan Potts Thomas & Catherine Quillin Michelle & Jay Rafter Andrew Recinos Judith Rice Teri Rowan Linda & Michael Salinsky Martha Sandstead Lesly Sanocki & Manish Chandhok Francis & Jaymi Sladen Chelsea Smith Pamela Smith Hill Elizabeth A. Stephens Laura Stepp Greg & Martha Struxness Tracy Subisak Steven & Marcia Taylor Glen Ulmer Michael Viera Julie Vigeland Lorraine Vinograd Sally Visher Zoey Wagner Barb Wayson & Mike Wyman Leann Wells Julie Wilson Peter Wong
*Deceased We do our very best to keep accurate records. If you have a correction or update to share, please reach out to the Development team at development@literary-arts.org
28
Literary Arts
OUR SUPPORTERS
BUSINESSES
FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT
$20,000+
$25,000+
$10,000+
$5,000+
Hoffman Law, LLC The Standard Wieden & Kennedy Wells Fargo
City of Portland Office of Arts & Culture James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Oregon Arts Commission Oregon Cultural Trust Tammis Day Foundation United States Treasury Zidell Family Foundation
Edwards Lienhart Family Foundation Energy Trust of Oregon Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation The Jackson Foundation The Kinsman Foundation Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund Oregon Community Foundation PGE Foundation Prosper Portland The Reser Family Foundation Ronald W. Naito MD Foundation Roundhouse Foundation Tides Foundation Travel Portland
The H.W. and D.C.H. Irwin Foundation Herbert A. Templeton Foundation Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust The Skanner Foundation Wheeler Foundation The Willard L. and Ruth P. Eccles Foundation
$10,000+
A to Z Wineworks Angeli & Calfo, LLC Bora Architecture & Interiors JP Morgan Foundation JP Morgan Wealth Management Kell, Alterman & Runstein LLP Libro.fm Morel Ink Stoel Rives LLP ZGF Architects $5,000+
Amazon Literary Partnership American Century Investment Foundation BMO $1,000+
Loyal Legion NVIDIA NW Natural Pence Contractors Portland’5 Centers for the Arts Powell’s Books
LITERARY ARTS IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY
Tammis Day Foundation
2025-26 Annual Report
29
SPECIAL THANKS
Community Parters INDIVIDUALS Tom Alvarado, Emily Arrow, D’Artagnan Caliman, Jolyn Chen, Jacque Fitzgerald, Scott Gallagher, Julia Gaskill, Anna Howard, Dawn Isaacs, Scott Kleiner, Marcus Lattimore, Jonathan Levine, Louis Lin, Charley Locke, Natron Meanz, Kim Melton, Lindsay Meyer-Harley, Shay Mirk, Mindy Nettifee, Rebecca Nguyen, John Stevens, Amy Theberge, Matthew Workman
Goldbloom, Veronica Gonzalez, Elena Gorbatiuc, Laura Gordon, J Grab, Lisa Grab, Launa Gray, Abby Green, Aubrey Green, Aimee Gregg, Daryl Grenz, Elie Gunderson, Jen Guzman, Rebecca Haas, Ginger Hackett, Yohann Hall, Jan Hand, Mike Hand, Ting Hao, Beth Harris, Sue Harvey, Olivia Hay, Greg Hellman, Robin Herrera, Diane Herschleb, Cara Hersh, Erin Hewitt, Hannah Hicks, Isabel Hidalgo, Ashley Hilfer, Mary Hirsch, Maxamaris Hoppe, Claudia Hutchison, Adam Irizarry, Anna Jackson, Andria Jacob, Judy Jacobs, Alison Jakel,
ORGANIZATIONS
Victoria Jakovec, Ashley Jemes, Joanna Crump, Olivia Johnson,
ASE Productions, Baker County Library, Beacon Press, Betty’s Books,
Stevie Johnson, Austyn Johnston, Michael Jonas, Lee Anna Jones,
Brown Bird Consulting, Buckman Journal, Caldera Arts, Coalition of
Tessah Joseph, Crystal Kaba, Judith Kahan, Joanne Kahn, Melody
Communities of Color, Crossroads Art Center, First Draft Writers
Kayser, Pam Kelley-Dockter, Alireza Khanaki, Jen Kim, Sofia Kimura,
Series, Fishtrap, Grassroots Books and Music, HarperCollins, Hasbro,
Francie King, Janna King, Kirsten Kippen, Brooke Klein, Kristie
Inc, Loyal Legion, Mind the Bird Media, Newport Public Library,
Kolesnikov, Catherine Kolonko, William Koonce, Sage Kyle, Lynn
Coos Bay Public Library, Northwest Review, Oregon Contemporary,
Labasan, Ted Lamb, Riley Lambert, Sarah LaPrade, Ann Lasocki, Jody
Oregon Humanities, Oregon State University, Oregon Symphony,
Lavallee, Vy Le, Miriam LeBlang, Irene Lee, Zachary Leibman, Esther
Oregon Town Car, Partners in Diversity, Pendleton Center for the
Lerman Freeman, MaOxford Lerotholi, Shaunna Levy, Eileen Licitra,
Arts, Penguin Random House, Portland Center Stage, Portland
Rui Lin, Jen Lind, Patty Lofgren, Sally Loomis, Ellen Lovre, Sia Luna,
Public Schools, Rose City Comic Con, SCRAP PDX, Seawolf Books,
Sarah Mace, Lauren MacKenzie, Kiley Mackin, Arden Madrone, LuAnn
University of Washington Press, Word Is Bond
Magnuson, Christina Malango, Steven Malikowski, Jane Manchee,
VOLUNTEERS
Rita Maqdas Khoury, Samantha Markowitz-Wright, Dine Mashlenko, Lisa Mattingly, Elinor Maycan, Kalah McCaffrey, Fiona McCann,
Torie Adamonis, Michael Adarius, Alexandra Adler, Maudie Ainsworth,
Christin McClatchie, William McCulley, Christen McCurdy, Jillian
Althea Alabab, Jennie Alexander, Samantha Allen, Kimberly
McDaniel, Josi McDermot, Penny Mcdonald, Katie McRae, Bonnie
Ambrosius Diamond, Jane Ancel, Christopher Anderson, Sheri
Meltzer, Monty Mickelson, Lillian Mickson, Claire Miller, Marissa
Anderson, Zack Arnold, Cheri Arthur, Griffin Aubrecht, Edna Avelar,
Minichello, Leslie Moguil, Taylor Monroe, Tracey Mora, Carrie Moran,
Beth Azar, Ellen Ballantine, Marie Bates, Lisa Bauso, Steve Beaven,
Frida Moreno, Susan Morningstar, Michelle Mughir, Larissa Nakagawa,
Liam Beckman, Seyona Belai, Lisa Benaron, Hannah Bergersen, Denise
Alex Neal, Steven Neils, Kelsye Nelson, Dani Nicholson, Isaac Nilsen,
Bertetto, Bettina Birch, Brina Bolanz, Kristin Bork, Sarah Bossenbroek,
Rick Nobleman, Breen Nolan, Ernesto Nolasco, Wayne Northrop,
Laurel Boyd, Nico Branderhorst, Karla Branson, Jane Braunger, Megan
Bekah Odgear, Lori Olmstead, Emma Oppenheim, Julia Oppenheimer,
Breen, Jim Breithaupt, Molly Brockway, Barbara Brown, Beth Brown,
Mose Oppenheimer, Maren Ostrem, Nybe Otterstone, William
Kelly Brown, Tony Brown, Jois Brownstein, Tara “”Ever”” Buckley,
Ouellette, Jackson Owens, Samantha Paganelli, Pankaj Paranjpe,
Samuel Burcham, Dana Buttler, Eric Callahan, Cameron Alexander,
Prajakta Paranjpe, Steven Park, Sophia Pascente, Karen Pate, Ryan
Brionne Campbell, Kaitlin Carpenter, Margaret Carter, David Cary, TK
Patterson, Leah Payne, Cynthia Peele, Suzanne Peerenboom, Melissa
Cary, Sara Casten, Lee Catalano, Jamie Catlin, Marlene Cauich Mejia,
Perkins, Carmelita Perrien Naccarato, Julia Peteet, Rosanne Petersen,
Chris Cearnal, Eleanor Chae, Holly Chandler, SJ Childs, Courtney
Katharine Phelps, Irina Phillips, Tamara Pickett, Marleigh Pikoos, Sean
Clements, Jeff Clewell, Richard Cohen, Janet Collier, Karen-Maria
Pingley, Jane Pinkowski, John Mark Pitner, Jonathan Potkin, Alan
Conforti, Anne Conway, Erin Cooper, Diane Cordero, Stacy Cormier,
Potts, Judy Potts, Katerina Puglisi, McKenna Rain, Daniel Rappaport,
Ann Cotton, Rebecca Craven, Cathy Cromett, Eileen Crosby, Shona
Rick Rees, Mya Retasket, Caroline Reul, Ellen Reuler, Olivia Reyes-
Curtis, Kate Custer, Wendy Cutts, Kat Darby, Shelby Davis, Sarah
Becerra, Lauren Riebs, Patricia Rimmer, Marshal Rittenger, Bryan
DeVita-McBride, Kathy Diamond, Michelle Dinsmoor, Reed Drew,
Robinson, Marketa Rogers, Lucy Rohay, Pema Rojas, Monifa Rowe,
Shelley Drew, Allen Duarte, Jordan Ducree, Terri Dudek, Angela
Ann Rowland, Kyna Rubin, Mary Ruble, Sarah Ruhl, Wendy Russell,
Ebba, Abby Engers, Grant Engrav, Pam Fairchild, Judith Farmer, Liam
Colleen Ryan, Jamae Ann Sabangan, Monica Sack, Malia Sanford,
Farrelly, Jessica Fauble, Ali Felici, Elyse Fenton, Elaine Ferrell-Burns,
Gaynell Schenck, Victoria Scholerman, Tracy Schwartz, Carolina
Amanda Fink, Jodi Forstrom, Linda Fosberg, Anna Foster, Elyse
Selva, Vanessa Sena, Hayley Shanks, Noah Sharpsteen, Maribeth
Foster, Ciara Fox, Leighann Franson, Ashley French-Roberts, Lauren
Shea, Gwen Shusterman, Robert Silverman, Adrienne Smith, Claire
Frey, Kasey Furutani, Susan Gallagher, Baylee Galley, Darla Garcia,
Smith, EQ Smith, Hailey Smith, Allison Sneider, Graham Snyder, Julie
Toni Garcia, Greta Gauntlett, Emily Gillespie, Claire Goins, Claire
Snyder, Bjorn Sorensen, George Sorensen, Brenna Stahr, Elizabeth
30
Literary Arts
OUR SUPPORTERS
Stephens, Kristen Stowell, Alyssa Strom, Shelby Sugierski, Kyla Sweet, Tracy Swensen, Nichole Tassoni, Garrett Taylor, Marjorie Taylor, Michael Tesauro, Greg Thomas, Joy Thomas, Pamela Tierney, Jessica Tierney, Emily Tkaczibson, Michael Toczko, Lynn Treat, Beth Tucker, Jebra Turner, Anna Tyler, Nadia Ulghani, Andrew Vandervelde, Nancy Vandervelde, Winter Wagner, Brigit Walker, Jeff Wallach,
PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPALS Peyton Chapman, Ayesha Coning, Dr. Dawn Joella Jackson, James McGee, Dr. Zulema Naegele, Dulce Nash, Molly Ouche, KD Parman, Drake Shelton, Adam Skyles, Curtis Wilson, Jr., Jo Ann Wadkins, Erika Beddoe Whitlock
Meg Walsh, Judy Ward, Delilah Weeden, Pat Welch, Rebecca Werlin,
WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS WRITERS
Dominique West, Sarah Wexler, Kim Weyler, Allegra Willhite, CyAnn
Joliene Adams, Zoë Carpenter, Aleksandr Chernousov, Alan Saint
Williams, Millie Williams, Lilly Windle, Eric Wiseman, Tess Wiseman,
Clark, Katie Cusumano, Hannah Dierdorff, Amy Lam (apprentice),
Michael Woods, Summer Yasoni, Olivia Yee, Sharon Yee, Tiffany
Robin Lanehurst, Amy Minato, Nicky Nicholson-Klingerman,
Yelton Bram, Felix Zhang, Ina Zucker, Gail Zuro
Daniel Nieh, Mark Pomeroy, Emilly Prado, Déy Rivers, Romana Sena
WRITING TEACHERS
(apprentice), Jen Shin, Vanessa Micale
janan alexandra, Ash Allen, Emily Arrow, Jami Attenberg, Rachel
INTERNS
Attias, Frances Badalamenti, mhd borhan, Mariah Bosch, Karleigh Frisbie Brogan, Emily Chenoweth, Charlotte Chipperfield, Katherine Cusumano, Becky Ellis, Nora Ericson, Gabriela Denise Frank, Kate Garcia, Rebecca Grant, Meg Hayertz, Jordan Jacks, Perrin Kerns, Michelle Kicherer, Garet Lahvis, Cari Luna, Emme Lund, Veronica
Gabriella Anaya, Kai Broach, Brooklyn Chatman, Lauryn Cole, Johnny Costello, Kouvr Donaldson, Sara Flaherty, Samantha Gallasch, Julie Holland, Ali Keiser, Miranda Luiz, Aurora Miner, Yena Perice, Samorn Phillips, Shiaian Price, Sage Reynolds, Burton Scheer
Martin, Margaret Malone, Frayn Masters, Thea Matthews, Daniela Molnar, Daniel Nieh, Wendy Noonan, Sam Olson, Brody Parrish Craig, Rajesh Reddy, Marion Schembari, Miranda Schmidt, David Seung, Radhika Sharma, Nisi Shawl, Emily Strelow, Joselyn Takacs, Paige Thomas READERS SEMINAR GUIDES Jesse Carsten, Elizabeth Duquette, Bennett Gilbert, Ülker Gokberk, Damien Jack, Scott Korb, Veronica Martin, Andrew Maxwell, Benjamin McPherson Ficklin, Pamela Pierce, Nisi Shawl, Christopher Zinn PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS Whitney Alfrey, Allison Alston, Amanda Alsonso, Brian Alves, Paige Battle, Josh Bott, Ilsa Bruer, Mary Brunson, Liz Buelow, Jess Burbach, Erin Burke, Katie Clark, Isaiah Creel, Stephanie D’Cruz, Kathy Diamond, Jacque Dixon, Ashley Eastman, Jennifer Edelson, Nerissa Ediza, Daniel Fredgant, Heidemarie Goertzen, Kyle Hunter, Amanda Graham, Mario Gutierrez Valiente, Heather Horner, Greg Huntington, Joel Jablon, Haven Kaplan-Miner, Ella Johansen, Johnny Keener, Katie Kehoe, Julia Kirkpatrick, Shannon Kirkpatrick, Cassie Lanzas, Carl Larson, Safiyah Laque, Lori Lieberman, Sarabeth Leitch, Tony Manetti, Nellie McCarthy, Krysta McDaniel, Adam Mendola, Leigh Morlock, Lisa Morrell, Jennifer Newton, Kathyrn Nock, Fanny Ortega, Ellen Pederson, Jennifer Rappaport, Winston Rivas, Charles Sanderson, Nicole Seeley, Elijah Sprints, Nancy Sullivan, Zoya Surits, Amy Taramasso, Jenny Tatone, Dardn Thomsen, Karen Tiet, Brenda Valentin Bravo, Roby Ventres-Pake, Dana Vinger, Maria Vrana, Em Winokour, MaLynda Wolfer, Alethea Work, Jessy Wray, Aliera Zeledon Morasch
2025-26 Annual Report
31
SPECIAL THANKS
Event Sponsors PRESENTING SPONSORS
Tammis Day Foundation
UNDERWRITING EVENT SPONSORS
The Eberwein Family
The King Family in honor of Marshon P. King
Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust
MEDIA SPONSORS
COMMUNITY, IN-KIND, AND VENUE PARTNERS
32
Literary Arts
OUR SUPPORTERS
COMMUNITY, IN-KIND, AND VENUE PARTNERS (CONTINUED)
FESTIVAL TITLE SPONSOR
FESTIVAL STAGE SPONSORS
Tim & Mary Boyle
Edwards Lienhart Family Foundation
FESTIVAL CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR
Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke
Josie G. Mendoza & Hugh Mackworth
FESTIVAL SUPPORTING SPONSOR
Wheeler Foundation
2025-26 Annual Report
33
WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
DURING THE 2025-26 YEAR
LITERARY ARTS STAFF
Mary E. Hirsch
Andrew Proctor,
Janet Hoffman
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
YOUTH PROGRAMS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Elizabeth Gewecke, Chair
PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
Molly Ishkanian Susheela Jayapal
Joan Cirillo
Susheela Jayapal, Chair
Paige Battle
Maurice King
Ginnie Cooper
Vera Ahiyya
Sandra J. Childs
Jonathan Levine
Lana Finley
Emily Arrow
Jacque Dixon
Indira Nallakrishnan
Sara Guest
Kathi Inman Berens
Mary E. Hirsch
Diane Ponti
Jenny MacNichol
Julie Bunker
Stuart Levy
Andrew Proctor, Ex Officio
Corrine Oishi
Joan Cirillo
Joanna Rose
Frances Fragela Rivera
Amy Prosenjak
Katherine O’Neil
Liz Crain
Karena Salmond
Chloe Gerathy
Geoffrey Tichenor
Andrew Proctor
Samantha Elwood
Charles Sanderson
AJ Gravatt
Chabre Vickers
Amy Prosenjak
Jonathan Hill
Nancy Sullivan
Kristin Walrod
Bob Speltz
Jaleesa Johnston
Tristan Tarwater
Renée Watson
Chabre Vickers
B. Frayn Masters
Tracey Wyatt
Pauline Hales-Brown
Priscilla Bernard Wieden
Jackie Willingham
Kimiko Matsuda
Rachel Hershey
Jackie Willingham
Ben Wood
Katherine Morgan
Katy Hilton
Josh Wong
Marcia Wood
Sara Ortiz
Hannah Hutchens
Marcia Wood
PATRON ADVISORY COUNCIL
Executive Director Alex Abraham Adesina Brown Amanda Bullock Rui Dun Riley Easter Elena Ender
Allura Graves Jennifer Gurney
Olivia Jones Hall Audrey Lambert
STRUNK & WHITE SOCIETY
Tina Merrill
Larry Colton
Jill Abere
Miah Meyers
Ginnie Cooper
Kim Bissell
Jodi Delahunt Hubbell
Marian Creamer
Theo Downes-Le Guin
Rebecca DeCesaro
Bart Eberwein
Marilyn Epstein
Susan Moore Jenna Nishimura Denver Olmstead Allyson Quirico
Marcia Wood, Chair
Brian Gard
Julie Frantz
Sarah Reif
Bob Geddes
Susan Hathaway-Marxer
Laura Renckens
Molly Gloss
Shobha Jetmalani
Juliette Rousseve
Carrie Hoops
Paula Kurshner
Jyoti Roy
Cecelia Huntington*
Phillip M. Margolin
Jaycie Sabala
Susheela Jayapal
Katherine McCoy
Alberto Sveum
Brenda Meltebeke
Carolyn McKinney
Paige Thomas
Anis Mojgani
Vanessa McLaughlin
Hazel Valdez
Jessica Mozeico
Lora Meyer
Alexa Winik
Corrine Oishi
Abby Nixt
Diane Ponti
Katherine O’Neil
Michael Powell
Erin Patterson
Amy Prosenjak
Nancy Ponzi
Per Ramfjord
Robyn Shuey
Halle Sadle
Roslyn Sutherland
Bob Speltz
Margaret Tuchmann
Steven Taylor
Kristi Wallace Knight
Jackie Willingham
Kim Weyler
Tom Wood
Emma Wood
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Amy Donohue, Chair Nik Blosser Joan Cirillo Ginnie Cooper Gustavo Cruz Omar El Akkad Lana Finley Elizabeth Gewecke Jonathan Hill
Steve Wynne
Ramón Pagán Craig Popelars Sarah Rothenfluch Alberto Sveum Alicia Tate Sage Van Wing Kim Weyler Josh Wong Gail Zuro PROGRAMS FOR WRITERS ADVISORY COUNCIL Omar El Akkad, Chair Maria Bezaitis
Maurice King, Chair
VISION PLAN COMMITTEE Amy Donohue, Co-Chair Bob Speltz, Co-Chair Joan Cirillo Ginnie Cooper Theo Downes-Le Guin Mitchell S. Jackson Susheela Jayapal Paul McKean Corrine Oishi Jon Raymond Jill Sherman Chabre Vickers Tom Wood Marcia Wood
mhd borhan
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Nancy Boutin
Jonathan Levine, Chair
Julie Dixon
Amanda Bullock
India Downes-Le Guin
Gustavo Cruz
Mary E. Hirsch
Rebecca (Becky) DeCesaro
Cecelia Huntington*
Mary E. Hirsch
Abbey Gaterud
Elizabeth Gewecke
Scott Korb
Lana Finley
Linda Leslie
Amy Prosenjak
Meghan Moran
Allyson Quirico
Jyothi Natarajan
Bob Speltz
Andrew Recinos
Jackie Willingham
Evan P. Schneider Dennis Steinman Armin Tolentino
*Deceased We do our very best to keep accurate records. If you have a correction or update to share, please reach out to the Development team at development@literary-arts.org
34
Literary Arts
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Development and Financial Activities
INCOME* Earned income ■ Ticket sales: 26% ■ Classes: 5% ■ Retail: 6%
6%
38%
Contributed income ■ Individual: 42% ■ Corporate: 4% ■ Foundation: 7% ■ In-kind: 4% ■ Government: 6%
Over 1,300 people contributed $2,344,378 in gifts and pledges. Thank you!
EXPENSES* ■ Programming: 52% ■ Administration: 29% ■ Fundraising: 13% ■ Retail: 10%
43,000 individuals enjoyed Literary Arts programming.
*Reported percentages are based on unaudited financial statements.
2025-26 Annual Report
35
Love Song Golden Shovel After Sister Rosetta Thorpe
I choose to imagine us a fresh field of seeds sown we didn’t know were their kind’s sole survivors. loving like we invented it, our fertile soil the base for each new nation we realize from rain mirages. I give every flower your name, collecting the rain
JAE NICHELLE 2026 OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
for christening. how I imagine us god’s favorites. oh, how I imagine us. eventually wheat, rice, mustards, yes, then the birds, the deer, all this life we didn’t see coming, didn’t think possible, but yes, we yell though no one can hear it, look at all we built out of rain, look at all we built out of rain.
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