A thriving literary culture across Rochester and the surrounding region, where access to the literary arts fosters empathy, belonging, and human flourishing.
• Human Connection: We center people, creating spaces where readers and writers gather, listen, and learn from one another. We foster dialogue grounded in curiosity, respect, and the dignity of every person.
• Access & Inclusion: We remove barriers and cultivate spaces where people of all backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, and abilities feel genuinely welcome and supported.
• Creativity & Craft: We honor writing as both art and practice, nurturing curiosity, rigor, and growth.
• Accountability: We are accountable to the people and communities we serve, to the artists, staff, and volunteers who sustain our work, and to one another. We communicate transparently, act responsibly, and steward our resources with integrity.
• Equity & Belonging: We work to ensure our programs reflect and uplift the full diversity of our community, rejecting dehumanization and fostering environments where all participants are treated with dignity.