The mission of Philadelphia Stories is to cultivate a community of writers, artists, and readers in the Greater Philadelphia Area through publications, professional development, and promotion of area writers.
Philadelphia Stories is a 501c3 that has been serving the writing, reading, and art community of the Greater Delaware Valley since 2004. Co-founders Carla Spataro and Christine Weiser began Philadelphia Stories to build a Philadelphia-based community of writers, artists, and readers through the free magazine and affordable educational programs and events. Program highlights include:
Philadelphia Stories Magazine: The primary vehicle for this mission is the free print magazine, which publishes work by local writers and artists. Five thousand copies of the free print magazine are distributed twice a year to more than 200 locations throughout the Delaware Valley, including all 54 branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Stories Junior: PS Junior is an annual magazine featuring local writers and artists aged 18 and younger. Read more here.
Professional Development: Philadelphia Stories hosts affordable writing workshops and masterclasses.
Promotion of Local Writers & Artists: Philadelphia Stories promotes writing and art from the Greater Delaware Valley through events like a national fiction contest, a national poetry contest, readings, and more.
VOLUNTEER & INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Philadelphia Stories volunteers gain valuable insight into the world of publishing, expand your professional network, and add your experiences to your resume. Read more about the available volunteer positions here.
Read the Philadelphia Stories Strategic Plan here.
Philadelphia Stories Masthead
Co-Founders
Christine Weiser and Carla Spataro
Executive Director
Yalonda Rice
yalonda@philadelphiastories.org
Editorial Director
Trish Rodriguez
trish@philadelphiastories.org
Executive Board of Directors
Alex Husted, President
Daniel Johns, Vice President
Carla Spataro
Fiction Editor
Teresa Sari FitzPatrick
Poetry Editor
Keith Kopka
Nonfiction Editor
Jenny Burkholder
Reviews Editor
Sarah Van Clef
Art Editor
Pam McLean-Parker
Assistant Art Editor
Victoria Rose
Communications Team
Hannah Michael
Jacqueline Jewell
Event Director
Lena Van
philadelphiastoriesevents@gmail.com
Production Manager
Derek Carnegie
Web Design
Loic Duros
Editorial Board
FICTION
Elizabeth Green
Jonathan Kemmerer-Scovner
Kate Blakinger
Lena Van
Nathan Long
Sharon White
Walt Maguire
POETRY
Peter Baroth
Kathryn Ionata
Vernita Hall
Phoebe LaMont
David Kozinski
Krystle Griffin
NONFICTION
Debbie Fox
Deborah Off
Jacqueline Massaro
Sarah Wecht
Watsuki Harrington
PS Junior
Program done in partnership with Mighty Writers.
PS Junior Mighty Writers Liaison
Malik Askia-Howell