Our Mission

The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS) is a New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 2000 to foster understanding of and respect for cultural diversity through literature and media literacy. To reach the broadest audience possible, the IAAS collaborates with artists, scholars and community organizations to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education and to promote literary talent and achievement.

How We Accomplish Our Mission

WE BEGIN WITH LITERACY.  Encouraging kids and young adults to read, write and learn about who they are helps them develop self-awareness and broadens their multicultural understanding.  Through literature, young people learn to appreciate diversity and become socially active, critically thinking members of our democratic society. By increasing an interest in reading, the IAAS builds an audience for literature of all cultures and minority groups now and for years to come.

WE PROVIDE A NEEDED FORUM FOR DIVERSE WRITERS.  Through our current and future programming initiatives in broadcast, internet, print and live events, the IAAS is committed to promoting the works of multicultural artists often overlooked in general media. We promote and support emerging, as well as established, writers with a broad reaching forum not usually available for their perspective.  Through literary voices that highlight, expose and share cultural differences we promote a better understanding among people, not only in the United States, but around the globe.

WE MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.  The IAAS levels the literary playing field by bringing the written word to everyone.  We attract the attention of the general public by hosting seminars, workshops and public readings that feature writers, artists and scholars.  By targeting specific reading participation programs in inner-city schools, libraries, bookstores and community centers, the IAAS builds a much needed bridge between minority artists/writers and minority audiences and others who would never be exposed to the wonders of multicultural literature.