LETRAS LATINAS, a founding member of the Poetry Coalition, is accepting applications for a paid Poetry Coalition Fellowship position. This position is 20 hours per week from September 9, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The total stipend is $20,000 plus $1,100 toward health care.
The Poetry Coalition is a national alliance of more than 25 organizations dedicated to working together to promote the value poets bring to our culture and the important contribution poetry makes in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. Members are nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to promote poets and poetry, and/or multi-genre literary organizations that serve disabled poets and poets of specific racial, ethnic, or gender identities, backgrounds, or communities. All members present poets at live events. All members present poets at live events. Each March, members present programming across the country on a theme of social importance. The Poetry Coalition is coordinated by the Academy of American Poets and we are grateful to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for its support of this work.
The Poetry Coalition Fellowship Program is a three-year pilot program. The goals of this are to help:
diversify the leadership of the nonprofit literary field by encouraging more inclusion of individuals from under-represented communities;
develop future literary leaders regardless of educational background;
introduce the individuals who are interested to nonprofit literary arts management, fundraising, programming, and editorial work, providing experiences that will be useful as they seek jobs and inspiring them to consider working in the literary field; and
increase the capacity of our individual organizations by having additional assistance.
Paid fellowships will not “level the playing field.” Opportunity in our country is not equally distributed across ability, class, ethnic, gender, and racial lines. And we alone cannot erase and undo the biases, barriers, discrimination, and prejudice that exist in our country. But we hope poetry organizations can be out front in building equity and inclusivity in literary arts organizations and spaces.
2024-2025 POETRY COALITION FELLOW POSITION DESCRIPTION
HOST ORGANIZATION MISSION:
Letras Latinas, the literary initiative at the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS), strives to enhance the visibility, appreciation and study of Latinx literature both on and off the campus of the University of Notre Dame. We put an emphasis on programs that support newer voices, foster a sense of community among writers, and place Latinx writers in community spaces.
For more information about Letras Latinas, visit:
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Poetry Coalition Programs & Communications position supports the planning, publicizing, and carrying out of select initiatives, including but not limited to: the Letras Latinas-Poets House video trailer initiative; “Curated Conversation(s): A Latinx Poetry Show (season 3 ;” Letras Latinas events to amplify the Library of America anthology of Latino Poetry;” and Letras Latinas Blog 2. Letras Latinas seeks someone who can think creatively and collaboratively while also being able to work independently. An ideal candidate will have substantive knowledge not only of contemporary poetry, but also a particular interest in Latinx poetry. An ideal candidate will also have some experience with literary programming, which could include: editing, curating, event planning, as well as the skill set to deploy social media for the purpose of amplifying a literary program. The 2024-25 Poetry Coalition Fellow in Programs & Communications will report to Letras Latinas associates, Brent Ameneyro and Laura Villareal, who, in turn, are managed by Letras Latinas Director, Francisco Aragón.
FELLOWSHIP LOCALE:
Although Letras Latinas is part of the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, the candidate is not required to be present on site. But the candidate must be able to work remotely with reliable access to the internet and phone, and be willing to do some Poetry Coalition and Fellowship-related travel.
FELLOW RESPONSIBILITIES:
Committing to 20 hours per week for the entire ten-month fellowship
Adhering to rules and policies of Letras Latinas as appropriate
Assisting substantively with the following:
Assisting with the Letras Latinas-Poets House video trailer initiative, which is Letras Latinas’ 2025 Poetry Coalition program
Content production and/or writing for Letras Latinas Blog 2.
Assisting with Letras Latinas-Library of America programs to promote Latino Poetry anthology
Attending and participating in Letras Latinas ZOOM meetings
Attending and participating in Zooms with other Poetry Coalition fellows and Academy staff to foster community, professional development, and create a peer learning group to learn about the following:
Marketing and promotion, including materials development
Assisting with Grant writing and/or fundraising
Content production for websites or social media
Participating, possibly, in the Poetry Coalition’s fall convening and professional development trainings
Completing evaluations at the end of the fellowship year
FELLOW QUALIFICATIONS:
*Passion for poetry and/or knowledge of contemporary poets, and interest in, Latinx poetry
*Interest in literary arts programming, administration, and management
*Exceptional organizational skills and attention to details
*Ability to multi-task and chip away at more than one project at a time
*Solid knowledge and experience with social media and information technology
*Being comfortable with regular, camera-on ZOOM consultations and check-ins
*Some experience with, and/or being willing to do, public speaking—such as introducing writers
*Some graphic design skills
*Demonstrated experience in the areas listed above
For more information about “Curated Conversation(s): A Latinx Poetry Show,” please visit:
For more information about Letras Latinas, including Letras Latinas Blog 2:
Note: We welcome all applicants, including those who are enrolled in or have recently graduated from MFA programs in creative writing.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for 2-3 references to: letraslatinasblog2@gmail.com (please put in the subject line: “POETRY COALITION FELLOWSHIP”. No calls please.
DEADLINE: July 3, 2024
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
The University of Notre Dame is dedicated to equal employment opportunity and to the implementation of positive programs designed to ensure the prevention of any discriminatory practices, either intentional or inadvertent, with respect to race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, age, or sex. The University is completely committed to full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246, the American With Disabilities Act of 1990, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other federal, state, and local laws concerning equal opportunities.
For more information, visit: