Impact
impact
one of the nation’s most preeminent non-profit organizations serving Asian American writers
“Kundiman is an essential space. A place of generosity and giving and rooting for each other. I had so many doubts and fears going into my first retreat — about my writing, my place in the world, and any sense of belonging I could claim towards a community. Kundiman was and continues to be a balm.”
“Kundiman was one of the most life and work-affirming experiences I've ever had. Kundiman made me realize what a weight I've been carrying, moving through the world as an Asian American writer (and person), and I am lighter now than I've been in recent memory.”
ACHIEVEMENTS
231 books / Chapbooks published by fellows
Selection of Presses: Alice James Books, BOA Editions, Copper Canyon, Graywolf Press, Henry Holt, Kaya Press, MacMillan, One World, Penguin Press, Tupelo Press, Saturnalia Books
36 fELLOWS IN ATTENDANCE at the 2019 annual kundiman retreat
13 youth leaders at the 2019 youth leadership intensive
2018 poetry prize winner ROHAN CHHETRI
Key Programs:
annual retreat
poetry prize
Workshops & writing intensives
youth leadership intensive
“Kundiman requires your attention deep presence, sensitivity, best work, risk-taking, self-reflection, humility, openness, vulnerability, and honesty. It meets what you bring with generosity, love, care, rigor, intention, compassion, experience, wisdom, willingness to accompany, and the deepest form of welcome. There is nothing like the space Kundiman holds for your fullest self to show up and be seen, and then to evolve. Kundiman takes everything you have to give and responds with, ‘yes’ and ‘more’ and ‘I will go there with you.’”
National reading series
Programming spotlight:
Wikipedia edit-a-thon
One of our most successful programs is our Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon for Asian American Literature, in which participants gather together as a community to edit and create Wikipedia pages related to Asian American literature to bolster the visibility of Asian American writers and literary organizations by adding details, pages, and pictures, and to make this information accessible to all. We have held Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons at the 2019 Asian American Literature Festival, in collaboration with Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and in 2019 and 2018 at the Ace Hotel Boardroom for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
42,530 words added
355,200 article views
33 articles edited
1015 total edits
83 total editors
The Outline — “If an Asian American Authors Doesn’t Have a Wikipedia Page, Do They Exist?”
NBC News Asian America — “Wikipedia edit-a-thon wants to fill in the gaps in Asian American literature”
“Kundiman has long restored my faith in poetry. I think I would have given up on being a “poet” a long time ago had it not been for the love and support of my Kundiman family. I’m so grateful to Kundiman for making space for me as I work to let myself take up more space.”
fundraising
2019 queer scholarship fund:
We celebrated Pride month by building the Queer Scholarship Fund, a need-based scholarship fund for queer writers to participate in our programming. With a goal of $6,000 and with the help of generous donors, we raised $8,567.89 in the month of June.