NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2015 Thank You! This year, your support was especially important As we plan for the upcoming season, we look back on a year that was exhilarating, challenging, and thanks to you, wildly successful! The BABEL audience was our largest to date, with 500 more attending. Literary superstars Colum McCann, David Henry Hwang, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Patti Smith also attracted one of our most diverse BABEL audiences ever. Gathering together to hear from these great writers of such insight, intelligence, humor and global perspective was an enlightening and life-affirming experience for readers, writers and dreamers from all walks of life. Our
“I loved his message of peace as an ideal, optimism being superior to cynicism, and how literature can change the world” —Student attending BABEL event featuring Colum McCann
newly developed Studio events were a hit, featuring visits from celebrated national poets as well as a Publishing Panel that provided a forum for writers to discuss their work and learn from each other. Finally, this past year, we were busy launching a new Writing Center, hosting a Statewide literary arts convening, and working steadily with donors, members and advisors to build the future of Just Buffalo through JB40 (read more about JB40 on page 4). Throughout, it was your participation, feedback and donations that helped us rise to the challenges of this eventful year and to finish strong. We thank you! Read on for more news from the year and a glimpse of great things to come.
“BABEL is one of the best things going in Buffalo. We love meeting young writers/students in the lobby. We’ve found that subscribing to the series is the best way to ensure that we get out to see the writers you bring in.” — Bill & Molly Gray (05/15)
BABEL fan with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie