named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
CreateNow
Community arts program bringing together youth, seniors, and emerging writers in NYC public high schools and senior centers through cross-generational artistic workshops.
Open City Fellowship
Six-month fellowship for journalists and nonfiction writers focusing on Asian and Muslim immigrant neighborhoods in NYC, including a $2,500 grant and publication opportunities.
Reading Series
Hosts 40 annual literary events in Manhattan featuring established and emerging writers, fostering community dialogue around literature and politics.
The Margins
Digital magazine of literature, arts, and ideas featuring work by Asian diasporic writers, with special projects including Open City, Transpacific Literary Project, and A World Without Cages.
The Margins Fellowship
Year-long fellowship for emerging Asian diasporic writers in NYC offering a $5,000 stipend, mentorship, publication in The Margins, residency at Millay Arts, and career development support.
The Margins Residency
National residency program offering 2–4 weeks of supported writing time for emerging Asian and Asian diasporic writers working on book-length projects.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Youth Writing Contests & Recognition Programs 1 activity
- Conducts community writing workshops for youth and seniorsDelivers creative writing and storytelling workshops through the CreateNow program for high school students across New York City, including 20-week after-school sessions, final public readings, and student zine publications; also conducts interactive workshops for elders at senior centers such as Hudson Guild, Henry Street Settlement, and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House since 2017.
-
-
Labor Union Representation & Organizing 1 activity
- Established staff union for organizational labor rightsFormally established a staff union affiliated with the Technical, Office, and Professional (TOP) Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO, to support employee representation and labor rights within the organization.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosts live literary events and readingsOrganizes and hosts live literary events including 40 annual readings at its Midtown Manhattan location, final readings for CreateNow students, public readings by fellows and mentors, and the annual town hall-style gathering for Asian American writers; previously operated a bookstore and event space at St. Mark's Place.
-
-
Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Hosts virtual masterclasses for writers adapting narrative work for filmOffers virtual masterclasses designed to help writers adapt narrative pieces for film, providing skill-building opportunities in cross-media storytelling.
-
-
Paid Internships in Media & Publishing 1 activity
- Offers Open City Editorial Fellowship for emerging journalistsProvides a six-month editorial fellowship for one emerging writer and editor focused on New York’s immigrant and Muslim communities, including a $2,500 grant, direct collaboration with editorial staff, research and editing experience, and publishing opportunities in Open City, a section of The Margins.
-
-
Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
- Operates fellowship programs for emerging Asian American writersRuns multiple fellowship programs including The Margins Fellowship (for four NYC-based writers), The Margins Residency (for four U.S.-based Asian diasporic writers), and the Van Lier Fellowship (for three emerging writers annually), offering financial support ($5,000 stipend), mentorship, workspace access, publication in The Margins, residency time at Millay Arts, and career development opportunities.
-
-
Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Publishes The Margins digital magazine and literary contentProduces and publishes The Margins, a digital magazine featuring creative writing, essays, poetry, and reported stories from Asian American and diasporic communities, with over one million total views since 2012 and an average of 3,000 weekly visitors; also publishes special folios, translated works, and co-published print anthologies such as Go Home! with the Feminist Press.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Organizes national advocacy initiatives and coalitions for Asian American writersHosts the annual Asian American Caucus at the AWP Conference, maintains an online archive of caucus gatherings, presents the Annual Asian American Literary Awards, and amplifies Asian American voices in social justice movements including anti-incarceration efforts through literary programming and publication.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$686K
Contributions & grants$627K91%
Program service revenue$13K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$46K
expenses
Total expenses$1.39M
Program expenses35%
Admin / overhead63%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$762K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$443K
Cash$391K
Investments$0
Liabilities$86K
Net assets$358K
Liquid reserves3.4 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +105.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAFREEN UDDIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $134K |
board members · 10
- ALIA ALJUNIED — BOARD MEMBER
- ANNE ISHII — CO-CHAIR
- HUA HSU — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNY LEE — BOARD MEMBER
- JIN AUH — CO-CHAIR
- KIRBY KIM — SECRETARY
- MANAN AHMED — BOARD MEMBER
- MARIKO GORDON — TREASURER
- MATT PACO — BOARD MEMBER
- TAN LIN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Asian American Literary Review Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Boerum Hill School for International Studies Partner — Host site for CreateNow workshops in Brooklyn
- Boerum Hill School of International Studies Partner — Host site for AAWW's CreateNow workshops for high school students
- C.J. Huang Foundation Funder — Supports the CreateNow program to advance Asian American community-based initiatives
- Feminist Press Partner — Copublished the anthology Go Home! with AAWW.
- Henry Street Settlement Center Partner — Partner site for AAWW's CreateNow storytelling workshops for elders
- Homecrest Community Services Partner — Partner site for AAWW's CreateNow storytelling workshops for elders
- Hudson Guild Community Center Partner — Partner site for AAWW's CreateNow storytelling workshops for elders
- Hudson Guild Elliot Center Partner — Host site for CreateNow workshops in Manhattan
- Hunter College High School Partner — Host site for AAWW's CreateNow workshops for high school students
- Hunter College High School Partner — Host site for CreateNow workshops in Manhattan
- Hyphen Magazine Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Kaya Press Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Kearny Street Workshop Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Kundiman Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Partner — Host site for CreateNow workshops in Manhattan
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Partner — Partner site for AAWW's CreateNow storytelling workshops for elders
- Lower East Side Prep Partner — Host site for AAWW's CreateNow workshops for high school students
- Millay Arts Partner — Provides residency opportunities for Margins Fellows at its artist retreat in Austerlitz, NY.
- Millay Arts Partner — Provides residency space for Margins Fellows at its artists retreat in Austerlitz, NY.
- New Design High School Partner — Host site for CreateNow workshops in Manhattan
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder of the CreateNow program in partnership with the City Council
- Smithsonian’s APAC Partner — Co-organizer of the Asian American Caucus.
- Technical, Office, and Professional (TOP) Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO Government — AAWW staff are represented by the AAWW Union, affiliated with TOP Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO.
- Technical, Office, and Professional (TOP) Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO Government — AAWW staff union is affiliated with this labor union.
- Technical, Office, and Professional (TOP) Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO Partner — AAWW staff union is affiliated with TOP Union, Local 2110 UAW, AFL-CIO.
- The Margins Network — Open City is a section of The Margins, the online publication of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop.
- Writing Downtown Las Vegas Partner — Host site for The Margins Residency, serving as a gathering space for residents and a literary hub.
- ZeFFY Partner — Partners with ZeFFY for event ticketing and registration.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts-Based Intergenerational and Community Engagementmethodology: community-based_arts_engagementBy delivering writing and storytelling programs directly to elders and underserved communities, we strengthen cultural continuity and creative agency because place-based, culturally responsive arts programming increases accessibility and deepens community trust.
- Creative Community Incubation for Underrepresented Voicesmethodology: community-based_arts_incubationBy providing mentorship, residencies, and workshops, we produce literary development and publication among underrepresented Asian American writers because sustained, peer-supported creative communities enable artistic risk-taking and professional access.
- Radically Inclusive Redefinition of Literary Belongingmethodology: radically_inclusive_ethosBy expanding who is recognized as a writer and who is included in the category of "Asian," we produce broader participation in literary culture because challenging exclusionary boundaries fosters belonging and legitimizes marginalized narratives.