Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LitFest 2025: Black Womanhood in Pittsburgh with Yona Harvey & Tahirah J. Walker - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 1d

10/18: LitFest 2025 welcomes Poet Yona Harvey and scholar Tahira J. Walker as they discuss their respective works and the intersection of history, community, marginalization, and resistance for Black women in Pittsburgh.
cityofasylum.org/program/li...

Poet Yona Harvey and scholar Tahirah J Walker discuss Black Womanhood in Pittsburgh in this LitFest reading.

City of Asylum presents: Arab Voices | Mt. Lebanon Public Library

3

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 2d

This October 8 at 7:00 PM, see City of Asylum Writers-in-Residence Rania Mamoun, Mukhtar Shehata, and Anouar Rahmani at Mt Lebanon Public Library for a reading highlighting Arab Voices.
mtlebanon.librarycalendar.c...

Join our friends from City of Asylum as we welcome a panel of Arab poets!

mtlebanon.librarycalendar.com

LitFest 2025: Black Womanhood in Pittsburgh with Yona Harvey & Tahirah J. Walker - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 3d

10/18: Poet Yona Harvey and scholar Tahira J. Walker explore what it means to be a Black woman living in a city deemed most unlivable for them. The pair will discuss their respective works and the intersection of history, community, marginalization, and resistance.
cityofasylum.org/program/li...

Poet Yona Harvey and scholar Tahirah J Walker discuss Black Womanhood in Pittsburgh in this LitFest reading.

THIS WEEK: Reel Q's 40th Film Festival & Story Club PGH

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 3d

See what's on this week at City of Asylum in the Alphabet City Marquee!
44048774.hs-sites.com/10-04...

44048774.hs-sites.com

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 5d

City of Asylum's LitFest 2025 is right around the corner! Featuring artists such as Anne Carson, Kiran Desai, Tahirah J Walker, and Yona Harvey, tickets are going fast. View the full lineup and reserve your spot for the festivities today! cityofasylum.org/litfest-2025/

LitFest 2025 - City of Asylum

October 18 to 19, 50+ poets, authors, and translators visit City of Asylum Pittsburgh for their annual literary festival. FREE tickets!

Co-founder of Pittsburgh’s City of Asylum honored for heroism in 2022 attack on author Salman Rushdie

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 9d

We are proud to share that the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission recently honored City of Asylum co-founder Henry Reese for his heroic defense of author Salman Rushdie when he was attacked in 2022. Read the full article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
www.post-gazette.com/local/...

The co-founder of a Pittsburgh nonprofit who helped defend author Salman Rushdie from an attacker in New York in 2022 has been officially recognized for...

www.post-gazette.com

2 3

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 12d

Don't forget to apply! Youth Poet Laureate applications close Tuesday, September 30, at 11:59 PM. Teens in Allegheny County with a passion for poetry and social justice, this opportunity is for you. For more info, visit cityofasylum.org/ypl

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 15d

Change begins with the tiniest little matters.

Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (The Unexpected) - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 16d

Whatever you think you can expect at this October's Story Slam, think again! Join us on 10/7 to explore the theme "The Unexpected" as a storyteller or a judge. RSVP at cityofasylum.org/program/st...

Try though we might to plan for the future, something always comes up that we just didn’t see coming. This October, come ready to share (or judge!) stories tackling the Story Slam theme of The Unexpected.

Drue Heinz Literature Prize Presents: 45th Anniversary Reading with Prizewinners Bill Gaythwaite, Caroline Kim & Kelly Sather - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 19d

10/28: It’s the 45th anniversary of the Drue Heinz Prize! Together, we’re honoring one of America’s biggest short fiction awards, with readings from current prizewinner Bill Gaythwaite as well as alumni prizewinners Caroline Kim (2020) and Kelly Sather (2023).
cityofasylum.org/program/dr...

It's a celebration of short fiction with the Drue Heinz Literature Prize 45th anniversary reading at City of Asylum.

Writer-in-Residence: Olena Boryshpolets’s “New Calypso” with Christopher Rivas & Lesya Verba (Book Launch) - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 20d

Did you know City of Asylum Bookstore specializes in translated and international works? Shop these new works in translation in store and online at cityofasylumbooks.org

2 3

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 21d

10/21: Embark on an Odyssey-like journey with Olena Boryshpolets's "New Calypso." The long-form poem comes to life in this musical theater performance, welcoming author and actor Olena herself, actor Chris Rivas, and bandura musician Lesya Verba to the stage. cityofasylum.org/program/wr...

City of Asylum Writer-in-Residence Olena Boryshpolets shares her new longform poem "New Calypso" in a musical theater performance.

Thursday Night Jazz: Roger Humphries + The RH Factor - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 22d

Always remember: they cannot lock up the freedom of your mind.

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 24d

On 10/16: We’re kicking off our fall 2025 concert season with the man, the myth, the legend: Roger Humphries. Roger and the RH Factor bring world-class jazz to the stage, letting the music run free. cityofasylum.org/program/th...

Legendary Pittsburgh jazz musician Roger Humphries plays a concert with his band the RH Factor at City of Asylum.

Thursday Night Jazz: Lou Stellute Quartet's Jazz Standards (plus Spontaneous, Beautiful & Funky Improvisations) - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 26d

Pittsburgh Jazz Legend (MCG Jazz) Lou Stellute joins forces with Antonio Croes, Ava Lintz, and George Heid III. The members of the quintet listen and respond together in the moment, resulting in a musically inventive and wholly original performance.
cityofasylum.org/program/th...

City of Asylum welcomes jazz musician Lou Stellute to Alphabet City for a funky and improvisational Thursday Night Jazz concert.

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 27d

Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15–10/15) is right around the corner, and City of Asylum Books has put together a list of recommendations that traverse genres, worlds, and generational stories to help you celebrate!
www.cityofasylumbooks.org/c...

Reel Q Film Festival - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 28d

It's the 40th Annual Reel Q Film Festival and City of Asylum is hosting! Don't miss the screening at Alphabet City on Monday, 10/6. RSVP today and stay tuned for more details to come!
cityofasylum.org/program/re...

City of Asylum hosts a queer film screening as part of Reel Q’s 40th Annual Film Festival (the longest-running festival in Pittsburgh!)

Reel Q Film Festival - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 29d

Beautiful words from former City of Asylum Writer-in-Residence Israel Centeno 🌇

1 5

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 29d

It's the 40th Annual Reel Q Film Festival, and City of Asylum is hosting! Don't miss the screening at Alphabet City on Monday, 10/6. RSVP today and stay tuned for more details to come! cityofasylum.org/program/re...

City of Asylum hosts a queer film screening as part of Reel Q’s 40th Annual Film Festival (the longest-running festival in Pittsburgh!)

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · 29d

Mark your calendars! This October 18–19, LitFest 2025 explores translation and social justice in the literary scene, welcoming international and local guests for a packed weekend of exciting programs. We can't wait for you to see what else is in store—stay tuned for more details to come!

3

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · Sep 6

Nothing can prepare you for this October's Story Slam at City of Asylum...Join us on 10/7 to explore the theme "The Unexpected" as a storyteller or a judge! RSVP today at cityofasylum.org/program/st...

It's time to celebrate World Kid Lit Month! 🌍

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · Sep 5

Celebrate World Kid Lit Month with the recommended reads in this week's edition of Sliding Stacks! 44048774.hs-sites.com/09-04...

44048774.hs-sites.com

Thursday Night Jazz: Roger Humphries + The RH Factor - City of Asylum

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · Sep 3

Where do you find your roots?
📷: Drew Kelly

1 1

City of Asylum @cityofasylum.bsky.social · Sep 2

Our fall 2025 concert season kicks off with the man, the myth, the legend: Roger Humphries. On 10/16, Roger and the RH Factor return to the Alphabet City stage for a performance highlighting the spirit of collaboration, community, and letting jazz run free.
cityofasylum.org/program/th...

Legendary Pittsburgh jazz musician Roger Humphries plays a concert with his band the RH Factor at City of Asylum.