The Rhode Island Writers Colony is the brainchild of the non-profit arts organization Third Floor Studios founded by Brook and John Stephenson. They are the sons of retired high school art teacher and visual artist James C. Stephenson. James’ attic studio and his archives of materials that cover the breadth of visual arts-all genres, all styles, all cultures-is the spirit of Third Floor Studios. His memory drives them to empower the next wave of artists of color by assisting them in gaining economic stability. They hope to host the next Pulitzer Prize winner, Booker Prize winner, or New York Times bestselling author.
Brook Stephenson
John Stephenson
“Being at the Rhode Island Colony was a (literal &) literary life-saver. Like our ancestors of old who forged maroon colonies in order for us to get some respite from what it means to be Black and in this world, the Rhode Island Colony not only offered a safe space for me to land on my last visit to the U.S. but a solid community of writers with whom to convene, exchange stories and offer feedback on my work. As an expat who permanently lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, landing at the RIWC was like rolling up in some kind of home. The Rhode Island Colony is a community tool - one that is long overdue and performs a very important function for us. In this space, writers of color receive the nurturing so desperately needed in order to continue on the
battlefield with our words
~Lesley-Ann Brown
2014 Writer-in-Residence”
Lesley-Ann Brown
Brook’s many Moleskins