Mission / Vision

We expand access to the literary arts – via advocacy and programming.

​We believe writers, readers, and book sellers should have access to a vibrant literary arts life; because the literary arts are vital to building healthy and engaged communities.​

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History

In 2024, Christopher Soto was commissioned by Los Angeles Times to write an article titled “Writers on Loving and Leaving Los Angeles." The landscape research completed for this article concluded that many literary arts professionals felt compelled to move away from the region due to a lack of educational and employment opportunities. 

In 2025, Christopher Soto convened an Advisory Board of literary arts professionals in order to build a strategic plan to address the needs of the writers, readers, and book sellers throughout the diverse regions of California. The organization launched its first public programs, hosting events such as a series called, "Shaping the Future of Literary California."

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By 2026, The Center for California Literature had secured fiscal sponsorship with Impact Guild, raised seed funding and hired lawyers to help us prepare documents for state and federal non-profit recognition, launched a Board of Directors with non-profit strategists to professionalize our organizational procedures, and we beta-launched our core programs such as the Indigenous Writers Circle, Writers for Migrant Justice, a Writer in Residence program, and more. This was the year, we solidified the foundation of our organization.​

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Looking ahead, towards 2027, we aim to hire our first staff members and embark on our first capital campaign in order to further support the literary arts across California.