August 13th, 2021

Dear Simpsonistas,

In June, when we began to plan with Sharon Simpson the party in her beautiful, artful garden, the world looked very different, signs indeed seemed auspicious. People were feeling the uplift and the glimmer of a new day dawning. We were all able to breathe again.

That no longer seems to be the case, unfortunately. There are simply too many uncontrolled variables, too much uncertainty, too many unknowns, and too much risk for us to feel confident about even an outdoor party of the vaccinated wearing masks. We don’t wish to put you and your loved ones in danger. With heavy hearts, we have therefore decided to postpone our August 29th Green Thought in a Green Shade summer garden celebration.

We heard voices of sincere hesitancy from more than a few. At the same time, we were also humbled and elated to have received RSVPs at an all-time record number for our major summer fundraising event. This was where we were hoping to feel joy in your company and at the same time build support to sustain the New Literary Project. All to say, this was not an easy decision. On balance, we choose not to risk endangering anyone.

Now what? We go on, strong, that’s what.

• Sharon has oh so generously offered to host us again once the coast is clearer. We will always be indebted to her for her ongoing encouragement and support. We will keep you posted.

• All due respect to the caterer and the valet parkers.

• All due respect to the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, to Eric Tuan and Keri Butkevich. We’ll hope to have you inspire us in the future.

• All due respect to the many who volunteered services and helped in all the essential things behind the scenes.

• All due respect to the wonderful Julayne Virgil, recipient of the 2021 Simpsonista Award, whom we were counting on publicly celebrating for giving voice to the previously voiceless. (Rain check, please, Julayne, okay?)

To the many who have already generously sent in party entry contributions, thank you! We will happily return your admission. If you wish to donate that money to the New Literary Project, however, we would be most appreciative and honored to put your precious resources to urgent use. Please write Diane and indicate your wishes. Which takes us to the next point.

The anonymous $50,000 match still applies to all donations made this summer. Your donations will still be matched dollar for dollar, seed for seed. Thank you, Anon Donors! Click here to see all the ways your generosity makes a difference. If you do make a summer donation, we will happily send you a copy, hot off the presses, of Simpsonistas: Tales from the Literary Project Vol 3—the “Pandemic Issue,” with great writing from Joyce Carol Oates, Daniel Mason, and many others, including workshop students.

Finally, life seems aswim in uncertainty and the unknown. But you know what has proven to be certain and very well known since the day the New Literary Project was created? Your confidence. Your trust. With your commitment in mind, we invest in our mission to inspire and equip writers across the generations to write their hearts out, in order to build a foundation of a literate, equitable, democratic society.

To that end, please click here to take a look and listen to our new two-minute video. We think you just might enjoy it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with us. In the meantime, here’s to healthier, sweeter days for you and your family, the New Literary Project, the nation, and the world.

Sincerely,

Ashley & Diane & Joe

LET’S GROW THE NEW LITERARY PROJECT

Please support our campaign to Grow the New Literary Project as we invest in young people, and all people, learning through the arts. In the process, we are building a more literate, democratic, equitable society.

We continue to sustain and expand our outreach into the community, inspiring and equipping writers across the generations to write their hearts out. Each of these initiatives has broad and deep impact, changing the lives of those who are all-too-often under-resourced.

Simpson Workshops: offered at no charge, collaborating with Girls Inc. Alameda County and other like-minded organizations and institutions.

Simpson Fellows: graduate student creative writers from the Berkeley English Department who lead the workshops.

Simpsonistas: our annual anthology that includes distinguished authors alongside first-time (someday distinguished!) authors from the workshops.

Joyce Carol Oates Prize Winner in Residence at Cal: Danielle Evans teaching and engaging with university and high school students and the public-at-large.

NLP Writer-Teacher @ Work Fellows: This is what summer is for. An innovative, new initiative. For high school teachers who are noteworthy writers. In 2021-22, open to California teachers; in the future, open to teachers anywhere in the country.

Two ways to make a donation:
Through our website: htts://www.newliteraryproject.org/donate

Or

By snail-mailing a check made out to Simpson Literary Project:

Diane Del Signore
New Literary Project, Executive Director
4100 Redwood Road
Suite 20A-424
Oakland, CA 94619

FYI: The state of California is in the process of changing our name to the New Literary Project; until then, for business purposes, we are the Simpson Literary Project.