| About the 2025 award: $50,000 to support crafting two landmark novels that amplify Afro Latine voices and contribute to a sustainable, inclusive literary ecosystem in Pittsburgh and beyond. |
A lover of words and their meanings across languages, Kleaver Cruz (they/them) believes in the power of words to write the stories that did not exist when they needed them the most. Kleaver is a Black queer writer and educator who has presented and conducted work across the African Diaspora. They are the facilitator of The Black Joy Project, a digital and real-world affirmation that Black joy is resistance. Kleaver is a 2024 nominee for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Debut Author. They are the author of *The Black Joy Project: A Literary and Visual Love Letter to How We Thrive.* (Mariner Books/Harper Collins).