Earlier this month, Cave Canem joined hundreds of literary institutions and thousands of writers in Tampa, Florida for the annual AWP conference. Cave Canem kicked off the week with its Annual Fellows Reading on March 7. Headlined by Florida-affiliated fellows Yolanda Franklin, Natalie Graham, and Breauna L. Roach,  fellows shared their work in rapid-fire intervals. On March 9, Cave Canem hosted a reading and conversation with Tyehimba Jess and Shara McCallum. Moderated by Clint Smith, their conversation explored complex issues of identity.

Cave Canem’s booth in the convention center’s exhibition space never saw a dull moment. It became a first introduction for those new to or curious about Cave Canem, a place for fellows who have never met to begin new friendships, and for Cave Canem friends to reunite.

Below we document memorable moments from AWP 2018!

Fellows gather for a group photo after the Annual Fellows Reading.

Fellows Camonghne Felix and Natasha Oladokun embrace after the Annual Fellows Reading.

AWP attendees were greeted with brochures, fliers, and buttons at the Cave Canem booth.

A handful of fellows like L’Oréal Snell (top right) and Donika Kelly (bottom) committed their time to managing the booth and talk with conference attendees, such as fellow Aaron Coleman (top left).

Cave Canem Board President Parneshia Jones (top) stops by to browse prize winning books. Cave Canem fellows, faculty and friends catch up with one another at the booth.

2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize winner, Julian Randall, visits the booth and gives an impromptu reading from Spit Back a Boy by Iain Haley Pollock.

Tyehimba Jess and Shara McCallum sign books after their reading and conversation.