Twelve Literary Arts (TLA) is an intergenerational incubator for poets and writers of color based in Cleveland. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary arts education organization that work with poets and writers from the time they are 14 years of age all the way through their mid-careers.

One of their signature programs is The Barbara Smith Writer-In-Residence program. This program invites writers of color worldwide to apply for one of two opportunities to serve as writer-in-residence. The residencies last 1-3 months, depending on the needs of the writer. Twelve Literary Arts provides cost of travel, an apartment, and a $5,000 stipend for a poet or writer of color to bring a substantive literary work to completion for publication. For more on this program, please feel free to visit the Barbara Smith Writer-In-Residence page here.