MISSION & HISTORY.
Kulturally LIT is a literary arts organization dedicated to elevating the literary traditions of the African Diaspora and promoting literacy in the community. Founded in 2019 by Ife Michelle Gardin, the organization began with the annual Elm City LIT Fest and a monthly podcast. It later produced DiasporaCON (2021–2024), a conference focused on careers in the graphic novel industry for members of the Diaspora. Kulturally LIT also partnered with the City of New Haven to select the city’s first poet laureate and hosted its inaugural LITerary Soiree fundraiser honoring Connecticut-based authors of the African Diaspora.
Our mission is to celebrate and increase awareness of the arts of the African Diaspora, with an emphasis on literary arts that strengthen literacy in our community. Guided by faith, unity, creativity, and determination, we honor the African Diaspora and the communities we build.
Kulturally LIT is grounded in the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: UMOJA (Unity),
KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination), UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility), UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics), NIA (Purpose), KUUMBA (Creativity), and IMANI
(Faith).
PRINCIPLES &
PURPOSE.
Our purpose is to bring these principles to the global community through celebrations, conferences, festivals, salons, workshops, and retreats that foster self-awareness and honor the African Diaspora. Through this work, we aim to transform how people of the African Diaspora value themselves and how others understand and engage with our culture.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS.
