Arts Leadership Award Program

Representing Alameda County Supervisorial District Three —

J.K. Fowler of Oakland and MK Chavez of Oakland, J. K. Fowler is the founder and executive director for Nomadic Press. MK Chavez is Nomadic Press’ director of creative programming. Located in the Fruitvale District, Nomadic Press is a literary and arts nonprofit organization supporting emerging and established writers and artists. As a publisher, Nomadic Press releases chapbook collections twice a year, full-length poetry and short story collections, an annual journal, and children’s books. Nomadic Press also hosts weekly readings and musical performances. As an active community member, the organization provides an affordable co-working space to writers and artists, leads environmental projects in Fruitvale, acts as a fiscal sponsor to unincorporated organizations and like-minded creatives seeking grant monies, and hosts and supports emerging art organizations for people of color, such as the Association of Black and Brown Writers and the AfroSurreal Writers Workshop.