LOCATION:
California State University, Los Angeles
EVENT DATE:
MAY 8-9, 2026
THE POPUP STARTS IN
About Black Writers Weekend Popup
Black Writers Weekend Pop-Up is an intimate creative gathering designed to celebrate and connect Black storytellers across disciplines. This special event features an exclusive screening of Dear Black Writers, a dynamic artist panel with creatives from books, film, and media, and a curated creative mixer for meaningful networking. The pop-up creates space for conversation, collaboration, and community—bringing writers and creatives together to share insights, exchange ideas, and build lasting connections in a supportive, inspiring environment.
Apply
Vending Opportunity
We have vending options here at Black Writers Weekend. No matter what business you have, we can find a vending solution that will fit your situation.
APPLY TO BE A SPEAKER
Have a story to tell or expertise to share? Black Writers Weekend is calling on authors, filmmakers, podcasters, and creatives who want to inspire, educate, and add to the conversation. Whether you’re promoting a new book, film, or project—or you feel your voice can impact and influence others—apply to be a speaker at one of this year’s pop-up experiences. Submit yourself today and be part of a powerful creative community.
I AM CREATIVE MIXER
The I Am Creative Mixer is an opening night kickoff experience presented by Black Writers Weekend Los Angeles, in partnership with Noname Book Club. Join us at the iconic Radical Hood Library for an intimate evening of connection, creativity, and community. Whether you're an author, poet, screenwriter, reader, or simply a lover of Black storytelling — this mixer is your invitation to step into the room, meet your people, and set the tone for an unforgettable weekend. Expect good music, great drinks, and the kind of conversations that spark collaborations and change lives
Volunteer with us
Our community-driven experiences built around creativity, culture, and connection. We’re looking for creators, enthusiasts, and community-minded individuals who want to contribute their skills and energy to something meaningful. Whether you’re skilled in art, media, design, coordination, storytelling, or simply love bringing people together, we invite you to apply and collaborate with our community. Come help us create, build, and celebrate together.
OUR
SPEAKERS
Workshop Instructor
Latasha Mercer
Screenwriter, Filmmaker
Yhá Mourhia Wright
Award-Winning Filmmaker
Moderator
Ashlyn Green
Speaker/ Writer
Tamika Christy
Author
Bahni Turpin
Actress/Audiobook Narrator
Kai Bouhmad
Curator , Photographer and Advocate
Jeandra LeBeauf
Podcast, Media Personality
Christal Luster
Media Personality
Arielle Estoria
Author, Poet, Actor
Jamilah Lemieux
Author, Media Personality
Imani Davis
Screenwriter, Movie Producer, Film Programmer
Derra Howard
Author, Screenwriter, Filmmaker
Khalimah Gaston
Author, Filmmaker, Movie Producer
Shawnelle Gibbs
Author, TV Writer
Dorado Quick
Screenwriter, Filmmaker, Writer + Director, Creative Director & Comic Creator
Shawnelle Gibbs
Author, TV Writer
Jade Martin
Emmy Award Winning Producer, Director, Writer
Rhonda Marie Alston
Filmmaker, Movie Producer, Podcast, Sports Talent Manager
Jessica Bethel
Photographer/Content Creator
Ben Cory Jones
Screenwriter, Filmmaker, Movie Producer
Tayo Amos
Tayo Amos
Filmmaker
Kristen Scott
Kristen Scott
Author, Media Personality
Kristen Scott
Shawneé Gibbs
Author, TV Writer
Kristen Scott
Trey Haley
Filmmaker, Movie Producer, President Tri Destined Studios - Director/Producer
event schedule
Friday May 6, 2026
Opening Mixer: I Am Creative Mixer
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Radical Hood Library, 2304 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
The I Am Creative Mixer is an opening night kickoff experience presented by Black Writers Weekend Los Angeles, in partnership with Noname Book Club. Join us at the iconic Radical Hood Library for an intimate evening of connection, creativity, and community. Whether you're an author, poet, screenwriter, reader, or simply a lover of Black storytelling — this mixer is your invitation to step into the room, meet your people, and set the tone for an unforgettable weekend. Expect good music, great drinks, and the kind of conversations that spark collaborations and change lives.
Saturday may 10th, 2026
FULL EXPERIENCE DAY
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Golden Eagle Ballrooms (located on the 3rd floor of the Golden Eagle Building at Cal State LA)
Building Address: 1994 Paseo Rancho Castilla, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Main Campus Address: 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Campus Marketplace & Creator Showcase
10:00 AM - Registration Opens
Workshop : Beyond the Book: Building an Author Brand That Lasts.
10:30AM Beyond the Book: Building an Author Brand That Lasts, I break down a framework for building an author brand that attracts readers, generates income streams, and helps create sustainable creative career pathways. Participants will leave with an easy-to-follow 90-day action plan, practical tools, and the confidence to build a brand that serves both their readers and long-term goals.
Story First: Writers on Character, Conflict & Truth
11:15 AM
Moderator: Lena Pringle
Panelist: Kristen Scott, Ivonnah, Jade Martin
Description: Great stories start with truth. Writers across genres—fiction, nonfiction, film, TV—discuss what makes characters unforgettable, how to build authentic conflict, and where they find the emotional core of their work. A craft-centered conversation about storytelling that resonates, no matter the format.
Access to Hollywood | The Gatekeepers: Film, TV & Audio Development
12:00 PM
Moderator: Imani Davis
Panelist: Latasha Mercer, Tayo Amos, Rhonda Marie,
A behind-the-scenes look at how projects get greenlit. Executives, producers, and development leaders discuss pitching, packaging, funding, and the realities of breaking into film, television, and audio media.
His Story
1: 00 PM
Moderator: Yha Mourhia Wright
Panelist: Ben Cory Jones, Trey Haley, Dorado Quick, Lamont Pete
Behind every great story is the man who refused to stop telling it. In this powerful all-male conversation, writers and filmmakers pull back the curtain on the creative journeys that shaped them — the sacrifices, the breakthroughs, the moments of doubt, and the unwavering drive that kept them moving forward. From the page to the screen, these trailblazers explore what it means to craft narratives rooted in Black male experience, and why the world needs their voices now more than ever. Raw, real, and unapologetically authentic — HisStory is a reminder that when Black men dare to create, culture shifts.
“I Am Creative: Storytelling in Motion”
2:00 PM
Moderator: Derra Howard
Panelist: Jamilah Lemieux & Arielle Estoria , Bahni Turpin
Creativity is not a moment — it's a movement. In this dynamic featured conversation, three of the most compelling voices across film, television, and digital media come together to explore what it truly means to create with intention in an industry that never stops shifting. From navigating identity on screen and on the page, to building careers that honor both artistry and purpose, this panel offers an unfiltered look at the craft, the calling, and the courage it takes to keep showing up as a storyteller. Whether you're deep in your creative journey or just beginning to find your voice, this conversation will challenge you, affirm you, and remind you — your story was always worth telling.
Creators Circle: What's The Process That Works!
3:00 PM
Moderator: Khalimah Gaston
Panelist: The Gibbs Sisters, Kai Bouhmad, Tamika Christy
Every creative has a system — even if that system looks like beautiful chaos. In this candid and energizing panel discussion, a diverse group of writers, filmmakers, and storytellers pull back the curtain on the creative processes that actually keep them producing, evolving, and showing up for their craft. From disciplined daily rituals to those unexpected lightning-bolt moments of inspiration, this conversation dismantles the myth that there is only one right way to create. Expect real talk about writer's block, creative burnout, the tools and habits that changed everything, and how each panelist found the rhythm that works for them. Whether you are a planner, a free spirit, or somewhere in between — you will leave this session with fresh perspective, practical insight, and the permission to build a creative process that is entirely your own.
3:45 PM | Spoken Word featuring - Ashlyn Green
Screening Block: Black Stories on Screen Featuring the Film: Dear Black Writers Followed by a Post-Screening Talkback
4:00 PM
Moderator: Jeandra LeBeauf
Panelist: Jessica Bethel + Tamika Jamison,
More than a documentary — this is a love letter. Join us for a special screening of Dear Black Writers, a vibrant and deeply moving tribute to the storytellers, dreamers, and changemakers who built Black Writers Weekend from a vision into a sanctuary. Through intimate stories and powerful moments, the film traces the decade-long journey of a festival that became so much more than an event — a community, a movement, and a lifeline for Black voices in publishing and entertainment. After the screening, stay for a moderated talkback exploring the lasting influence of Black storytelling, the experiences that shaped this movement, and what we believe comes next for Black creatives on the page and on the screen. This is our story — told by the people who lived it.
Student Networking Hour
5:00 PM – An intentional space for Cal State LA students to meet panelists, producers, and media professionals. Includes Q&A, career advice, and portfolio feedback opportunities.
ABOUT THE LOCATION
