Events
Expression! A Fall Poetry Festival
Sponsored by Cracked Walnut
- When:
- September 18, 7:00–8:30pm
- Where:
- East Side Freedom Library
1105 Greenbrier St.
St. Paul, MN
As part of the Cracked Walnut Poetry Festival "Expressions!", poets/writers from Writers for Democratic Action will read works speaking out on political, social, and cultural occurrences in our country. Participants include Diane Jarvenpa (spokesperson for WDA), Kate Kysar, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Margaret Hasse, and Donna Isaac.
Alexis Pauline Gumbs on Survival is a Promise
The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde
from the Loft
- When:
- September 17, 6:30pm
- Where:
- The Loft at Open Book
Mpls, MN - Cost:
- $15
Join The Loft, the Givens Collection of African American Literature & Moon Palace Books for an evening with writer Alexis Pauline Gumbs discussing her new book Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde.
An Evening with Terrance Hayes
from Literary Witnesses and The Loft
- When:
- October 2
- Where:
- Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Ave
Mpls, MN - Cost:
- Free
This free event will include a reception and book signing. Books will be available for purchase from Milkweed Books. We recommend entering off LaSalle Avenue; free parking is available off Franklin Avenue.
Don’t miss the opportunity to join the Loft for a creative writing workshop with Terrance Hayes, the next day, October 3.
The Hidden Life of Books: Banned & Burned
Exhibit and Panel Discussion
from Hennepin County Library
- When:
- Wednesday, October 8, 5:30–8:00pm
- Where:
- 5280 Grandview Square
Edina, MN
Celebrate intellectual freedom during Banned Books Week with an exhibit and talk, The Hidden Life of Books Chapter V: Banned & Burned. The Hidden Life of Books is an ongoing photography series by Laura Migliorino exploring various archives and mining lost or erased histories. Here she has photographed frequently challenged or banned books, which she has been able to check out and access from Hennepin County Library. In the talk, panelists will discuss the history of book banning, their work, experience, and perspective on the topic.
Panel Participants
- Laura Migliorino, Photographer: lauramigliorinoart.com
- Sun Yung Shin, Author: sunyungshin.com
- Chavonn Shen, Author: chavonnwshen.com
- J.R. Genett, Deputy Director for Hennepin County Library
Twin Cities Book Festival
Sponsored by Rain Taxi
- When:
- Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Where:
- Union Depot
St. Paul, MN
25 Years of Celebrating Books & Book People
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival is the annual Minnesota gathering for readers, writers, publishers, and purveyors of all things literary. The TCBF features dozens of presenting authors, special children’s programs, and a wide variety of exhibitors featuring new and rare books, quirky literary curiosities, and more.
Opportunities
Rhythm and Revolution: The America at 250 Poetry Project
Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
- Deadline:
- October 31, 2025
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence, the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is conducting an open call for new/original (unpublished) poetry. Inspired to AASLH, his upcoming anniversary is an opportunity for us as a people to engage with history and reflect upon the full sweep of our nation’s past “beginning millennia before 1776 and continuing to the present – to build a stronger future.”
The Friends of the SPPL hope that the poetry recognized through this project adds to meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding. Submission deadline: Friday, October 31st, 2025. For guidelines and more information, click the link and scroll down the page for all the details.
Voice of Democracy Essay Contest
Sponsored by the VFW
- Deadline:
- Oct. 31, midnight
- Where:
- Bring the entry form to your local participating VFW Post
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.
The 2025-26 theme is: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
It Can’t Happen Here
Participate in a staged reading
The Minnesota chapter of Writers for Democratic Action seeks to bring a staged reading of Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here to local communities. We have the script. If you (as an individual or as an organization) would like to participate or partner with us, please write to hello@writersfordemocraticactionmn.org.
In 1936, It Can’t Happen Here, a stage adaptation by Sinclair Lewis of his own bestselling novel, opened simultaneously on 21 stages in 17 states across America one week before that year’s presidential election. It served as a warning against the rise of fascism in America.
It Can’t Happen Here – Again by Writers for Democratic Action is both an homage to the 1936 production as well as a call to action now. Since the return of Donald Trump in 2024, more than a hundred productions of this free, easily mounted script have been performed in theaters, living rooms, churches, bars - everywhere folks gather to say No! to the rise of Fascism in America.
Whoever Tells the Story Writes History
from The OpEd Project
Check out the workshops and publication opportunities for those who like to write op-eds.
“The Power of Bridging: how to build a world where we all belong by john a. powell
Free Book & Book Club!
from Black Garnet Books and the Bush Foundation
"Black Garnet Books and the Bush Foundation have teamed up to bring you The Power of Bridging: how to build a world where we all belong by john a. powell. Bush is offering free copies of the book to anyone located in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations sharing that geography. We just ask that you use your free copy to try and practice how you might be a bridger in your life.
"We have over 5,000 orders and are working to get orders out to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. You will receive an email confirmation once your order has shipped."
National WDA Substack
Call for work from Writers for Democratic Action (national)
- Deadline:
- Ongoing
Writers for Democratic Action is thrilled to announce our Substack, created in partnership with the Youth Committee. Our new online publication is an opportunity to submit your writing on politics, society, and the world. We welcome and encourage diverse perspectives from across the US and abroad. No minimum publications or experience–we want powerful writing relevant to our time.