Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora is the recipient of a $50,000 Equity in Verse grant awarded by the Poetry Foundation. 

The grant is a part of commitment from the Poetry Foundation to support U.S.-based nonprofits that prioritize building and strengthening the capacity of BIPOC leadership at nonprofit poetry, literary arts, and publishing organizations; cultivate and engage new, diverse audiences; and foster field innovation.  

Housed at Illinois State University, Obsidian is a publishing platform that includes a journal, online gallery, web features, programs, and more dedicated to uplifting voices of African diaspora. The platform is one of 39 nonprofit organizations chosen by the Poetry Foundation from a pool of 250 applications across the United States to receive financing from their first formal cycle of public grants. 

As a grantee-partner, Obsidian is devoted to promoting access to poetry and support for poets through print and online publication in Obsidian, educational programs, and workshops, such as #ObsidianVoices and O|Sessions, and gatherings such as @Salon. 

Learn more about the 2022 Equity in Verse grant recipients. 

Find more information on Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora.