Prose City: Your Grassroots Literary Community in Portland, Oregon
Welcome to Prose City, founded as a labor of love and a heartfelt offering to the greater Portland community by Cricket and Iris — two passionate Portlanders for whom prose and poetry feel as much a part of this city as roses and rain. As longtime residents working in higher education, we’ve dedicated our lives to the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and the magic that can be woven through words, in all their various forms and languages.
The journey toward Prose City began amidst book-laden shelves and spirited discussions, revealing a shared dream: to create a vibrant grassroots literary community that mirrors the progressive and inclusive values we hold dear. Thus, Prose City was born — a place where everything we do aims to collectively imagine and co-create a better world.
Our Inspiration: Crafting a Progressive Literary Hub
We’ve journeyed through Portland’s literary landscape, from taking part in writing workshops to immersing ourselves in bookshops and festivals. Our passion for reading and writing spans genres and languages, embracing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, academic scholarship, journalism, and more.
We envisioned Prose City as the literary haven we have always been seeking — a haven not just for us, but for all who believe in the transformative power of words, language, discussion, art and communication. A community that champions progressive values and ensures accessibility through free or low-cost events and/or a sliding scale approach.
Aspirations: Cultivating a Rich Literary Ecosystem
We aim to nurture a space that caters to readers, writers, and literary enthusiasts in every form. Whether you’re a budding author, an avid reader, or a supporter of the literary arts, you’ll find community here.
Expect a kaleidoscope of events: intimate writing groups, book clubs, author events, poetry readings, and literary outings that paint the town with the endless rainbow of imagination. These gatherings in community are the lifeblood of Prose City, each one an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.
Expectations: A Flourishing Literary Scene
We’re rolling out a series of events designed to kindle creativity, spark dialogue, and build bridges across our community.
Your ideas, suggestions, and dreams are the seeds from which Prose City will flourish. Together, we’re not just building a community; we’re nurturing a movement where every story is valued, and every word has the power to connect and improve our little corner of the world and beyond. Your literary journey, wherever you are on your way, is not just welcomed — it’s celebrated.
