Founded in 1996 by poets Toi Derricotte andCornelius Eady to remedy the under-representation and isolation of AfricanAmerican poets in MFA programs and writing workshops, Cave Canem is a homefor the many voices of African American poetry and is committed to cultivatingthe artistic and professional growth of African American poets. Called “the major watering holeand air pocket for black poetry” by poet Nikky Finney, Cave Canem has grownfrom an initial gathering of 27 poets to become an influential movement with arenowned faculty and a high-achieving fellowship of 268 poets residing in 34states. Its programsinclude a week-long summer retreat, a first book prize, a Legacy Conversationseries, writing workshops, publications and national readings. Such renownedpoets as Elizabeth Alexander, Lucille Clifton, Yusef Komunyakaa, Carl Phillipsand Sonia Sanchez number among the organization’s faculty and judges. CaveCanem fellows have over 150 books in print across several genres and havereceived many prestigious awards—Guggenheim, Lannan Literary, NEA andStegner Fellowships; the Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets; andthe Whiting Writers’ Award, among others. To date, the organization haspublished Gathering Ground: A Reader Celebrating Cave Canem’s First Decade (University of Michigan Press, 2006)and The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South (The University of Georgia Press,2007). For more information, go to cavecanempoets.org.