About Us

The Lit City Foundation began with a friendship that started in a high school trigonometry class. What began as a simple connection between Paulette and Doly grew into two decades of creativity, shared dreams, and community centered projects. After working together on multiple ventures, they launched Lit City, the project that felt most aligned with their purpose.

As their work expanded, Tyler joined as the third co founder. His background in law, mentorship, and community organizing helped strengthen the foundation’s vision and reach. Together, Paulette, Doly, and Tyler built the Lit City Foundation to serve as a literary home for readers, artists, and neighbors.

Our focus centers Black literature, the African Diaspora, and creative spaces that hold joy, rest, imagination, and community care. Lit City continues to grow through each conversation, open mic, retreat, and book club gathering. Every person who steps into our space becomes part of the story.

Close-up photo of three people women, side by side, with wooden wall background. The man wears glasses, one woman has straight hair, and the third has curly hair They are wearing casual clothing.
A group of women sitting and talking in a cozy, well-stocked bookstore or library, with bookshelves filled with colorful books behind them.

Vision

Our vision is to create spaces where creativity inspires action, stories build bridges, and community grows stronger. Through our mission of providing a platform to empower and inspire creatives we aim to effectuate our core values of community connection, cultural celebration, lifelong learning, and artistic empowerment.

Since launching in 2024 Lit City: 

  • Has engaged over 600+ community members through our events.

  • Hosted over a dozen events and collaborated with other community groups, such as Good Vibes in the Park, Strauss Haus and The Blerd Spot to amplify local impact.

  • Increased our social media engagement to thousands of interactions.

  • Provided a platform to dozens of authors, musicians and other creatives.

Mission

View of people shopping for books inside a bookstore with large windows showing an outdoor scene with trees and buildings.

Amplify creativity. Build community. Catalyze change. 

Values

  • Community Connection: Celebrating collaboration by strengthening connections across our local and global networks.

  • Cultural Celebration: Honoring traditions, histories, and innovations of the African diaspora through the arts.

  • Lifelong Learning: Supporting and encouraging curiosity, growth, and creative exploration.

Three women are outdoors in a park on a sunny day, laughing and enjoying themselves. One woman in a white dress and sunglasses is clapping, another in a pink dress and hat is reaching out, and the third in a beige shirt and denim shorts is laughing with her hands raised.

FAQ

  • What is Lit City Book Club? Lit City Book Club is a New York City community built around the literature, stories, and voices of the African diaspora. We host monthly book discussions and cultural events at Black-owned venues across Brooklyn, Harlem, and beyond.

    Who is Lit City for? Lit City is created by and for the African diaspora. If you love books, culture, and community, you belong here.

    Is Lit City a nonprofit? Lit City Book Club is a program of Lit City Foundation NYC Inc., a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to arts, literacy, and cultural programming for the African diaspora.

  • Where do events take place? Most of our events take place at Black-owned venues in Brooklyn and Harlem. We are always looking to expand to new Black-owned spaces across New York City.

    How much does it cost to attend? Most events are free. Some special events may have a small ticket fee. Check the Events page for details on each gathering.

    Do I have to finish the book to attend? No. Come as you are. The conversation is richer when people are at different points in the book.

    How do I RSVP? All RSVPs are handled through Eventbrite. Visit our Events page to register for upcoming gatherings.

    How often do you host events? We host events monthly. Follow us on Instagram and join the club to stay up to date on what is coming next.

  • What does it mean to join the club? Joining means becoming part of our community. Members get early access to event announcements and updates directly from Lit City.

    Is there a membership fee? No. Joining Lit City Book Club is free.

    How do I join? Visit our Members page and fill out the form. That is it.

  • How do I stay up to date on events and news? Follow us on Instagram at @litcitybookclubb and on TikTok at @litcitybookclub. You can also subscribe to the Lit City Newsletter by submitting your email in the form at the bottom of any page on our site.

    How do I contact Lit City? Email us at info@litcitybookclub.com. We are a small team so please allow a few days for a response.

    Can my organization partner with Lit City? Yes. We are always open to partnerships that align with our mission. Reach out to us at info@litcitybookclub.com with the subject line "Partnership Inquiry."

  • You can make a tax-deductible donation to Lit City Foundation NYC Inc. at litcitybookclub.com/donate. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all contributions go directly toward programming and community events.