This is your invitation to help shape the next generation of poets and authors.
Your presence at The Poets Gala is a contribution to a movement that will impact CLI students for generations to come.
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Attend the Gala – Experience an inspiring evening of art, food, and community.
Donate – Every dollar supports scholarships and the expansion of CLI programs.
Spread the Word – Share our mission and help us build a national network of literary access through public libraries.
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Event Details
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Los Angeles Central Library – Mark Taper Auditorium
630 W 5th St Los Angeles, CA 90071
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Refreshments will be served
The Poet's Gala
HOLDING DOORS OPEN FOR EVERY DREAMING WRITER
The Sims Library of Poetry is the largest Black-owned poetry library in California and a cultural cornerstone of South Los Angeles. This public resource serves as a lifeline for writers and dreamers. It’s a sanctuary where poets of all backgrounds come to write, workshop, and publish their stories. It’s where diverse voices are celebrated, where literature thrives, and where community comes alive. But this vital space cannot flourish without your support.
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Community Literature Initiative (CLI) is building a future where every student, no matter their circumstances, can take our classes for free, hosted in public libraries nationwide.
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Your support keeps those doors open, transforms libraries into classrooms of possibility, and ensures that no dream is left behind.
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You can make this vision real at The Poets Gala, Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Mark Taper Hall, Los Angeles Central Library. This evening isn’t just a celebration—it’s a lifeline. Every ticket, every gift, every share fuels scholarships, resources, and programs that empower writers to finish their books, share their stories, and leave a mark on the world. By attending or supporting the gala, you’re giving future poets and authors the opportunities they deserve, and that is to dream, write, and be heard.
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Why It Matters
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Behind every published CLI author is a story of perseverance. Some students work two jobs, raise families, and still find the courage to write. Others face sudden setbacks—job loss, illness, or unexpected life changes—that put their dreams on hold.
Your support changes that story. The funds raised through The Poets Gala will directly sustain scholarships and resources for students who might otherwise have to walk away. Together, we can make sure that every writer who holds on to their dream gets the chance to see it through.
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Be Part of the Legacy
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This is your invitation to help shape the next generation of poets and authors.
Your presence at The Poets Gala isn’t just a ticket to an event—it’s a contribution to a movement that will impact CLI students for generations to come.
Attend the Gala – Experience an inspiring evening of art, food, and community.
Donate – Every dollar supports scholarships and the expansion of CLI programs.
Spread the Word – Share our mission and help us build a national network of literary access through public libraries.
​
Support the Sims Library of Poetry
Donor Tiers
HOLDING DOORS OPEN FOR EVERY DREAMING WRITER
$250 – Fund a Writer for a Month
Give a student the gift of one full month of tuition. Your contribution provides the tools, mentorship, and support they need to keep writing, finish their projects, and share their stories with the world.
$200 – Become a Library Pillar Student
Take the class at a discounted price while directly supporting the Sims Library of Poetry. As a Pillar, you’ll work on your own book, gain mentorship, and help keep this creative hub alive. Your gift ensures rent, utilities, Wi-Fi, and essential operations are fully funded, sustaining a space where writers thrive.
$100 / month – Pillars of Support
Join a dedicated community of monthly supporters who help keep the library running and CLI programs accessible. Your ongoing support provides stability, resources, and a home for every aspiring writer who walks through our doors.
$50 – Sponsor a Workshop
Empower a group of students by funding one full CLI workshop. Your donation creates the space, guidance, and encouragement for multiple writers to develop their craft and share their voices.
$25 – Keep the Library Lights On
Even a modest contribution keeps this BIPOC-owned cultural landmark open and welcoming, helping us maintain the resources, programs, and community connections that make writing and publishing possible.
Every donation—big or small—directly nurtures creativity, amplifies underrepresented voices, and fuels the next generation of poets and authors. By giving, you aren’t just supporting a library—you’re investing in dreams, stories, and futures that might otherwise never be written.
