December 9, 2022, New York, NY—Words Without Borders has been awarded a major capacity-building grant from the Whiting Foundation, the organization announced today. The grant, made through Whiting’s new initiative to foster the humanities in high schools, will provide support for WWB Campus, Words Without Borders’ education program.
“As culturally responsive literature faces new challenges across the country, we are thrilled to receive support from the Whiting Foundation for a program that brings international literary voices into the classroom,” said WWB’s executive director, Karen M. Phillips. “This game-changing grant will allow more students to engage with global humanities in the classroom and access culturally responsive resources.”
Words Without Borders launched WWB Campus in 2017 under the guidance of education editor and curriculum designer Nadia Kalman. The free online program provides access to literature in translation by more than 200 authors from 60 countries, including Mexico, Iran, Russia, and China, alongside multimedia curricular materials and films, music, and art that inspire connections across the humanities. To date, more than 40,000 educators and students have used the online program. WWB Campus also offers professional development for teachers and in 2022 alone trained more than 350 educators to bring global literature to their students.
The Whiting Foundation’s support will help WWB build capacity to deliver services to a growing community of educators, students, and schools in the United States. The grant will help fund new outreach efforts and program staff as WWB expands partnerships with school districts and schools across the country. Providing $75,000 in the first year of funding, the Whiting Foundation’s grant is the largest received by WWB in its nearly twenty-year history.
About Words Without Borders
Founded in 2003, Words Without Borders is a nonprofit organization that cultivates global awareness by offering unparalleled access to international writing in English translation. Reaching readers and students worldwide, our website and programs provide a vital platform for today’s international writers and literary translators. Our programs include our Whiting Literary Magazine Prize–winning digital magazine for international literature, the WWB Campus online education program for students and educators, public literary events, and a fellowship program.
For additional information, please contact:
Contact: Nadia Kalman
Email Address: nadia@wordswithoutborders.org
Website Address: www.wwb-campus.org
Twitter: @wwborders