Our mission is simple: we publish social change. We mobilize today’s artists and writers to do good.
Founded in 2018 as a zine, Lucky Jefferson (LJ for short) is an award-winning publisher driving change through collaborative literary and arts experiences.
In 2021, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In 2027, we are transitioning from publishing multi-author anthologies to publishing book-length work and formally accepting queries.
We publish writers and artists who never thought they could, whose perspectives have been shunned, and those who pursued writing later in life.
We also publish journalism as 15 West, our resident- and student-powered nonprofit newsroom covering neighborhoods 15 miles west of downtown Chicago. Read about our impact here and our beginnings here.
Our Programs
Creative Arts
Our creative arts programs give students and teaching artists the space to grow and build lasting connections.
What we publish
One of a kind. Collaborative. Sometimes interactive.
The way the world reads and writes has changed. So why hasn’t the way we publish books?
Lucky Jefferson prioritizes publishing poetry, micro nonfiction, photography, zines, and experimental forms.
We have published 703 writers and artists from 45 states and 34 countries. Our books spark change, conversation, and were crafted to bring individuals together.
Everyone has a story.
We take great strides to diminish oppressive traditions in the field.
We create spaces for writers and artists to lead with their voices and be a part of our larger story.
Curiosity is fuel.
We embrace the unknown, tackle the scary thing, and ask the prickly questions.
If there’s ever an opportunity to radically grow, we take it.
The table is never full.
We take a collaborative approach when building publications.
Co-partnering with our communities, especially writers and artists, is what we do best.
Leading with integrity.
Being the difference is our middle name.
We prioritize doing the right thing to make our communities (and the world) a little brighter.
Members
aka students and creatives doing the work
Illustration (Summer ’26 Cohort)
Yoshen
Leanna Ho
Camila Vallejo
Kai Samuels-Jackson
Isabel Atienza
Yariel Roman
Valene Perillo
Gwen St. Clair
Lydia Smithey
Lydia Youn
Brielle Lee
Kyra Connelly
Katie Ames
Diem Quach
Alumni
The following people contributed their time, skills, and energy to this organization. They helped shape what we do.
Ailun Shi / Andres Palacios / Angelica Perez / Abigail Lopez / Brandon McWilliams / Christina Harisiadis / Faith Brown / Gab K De Jesus / Gillian Campbell / Grace Schmitt / Ibrahim “Khalil” Mustapha / Itzel Rivera-Fernandez / Ivana Jarmon / Jasmine Lyte / Jessica Shellenhamer / Jiaonny Jenkins / Kelly Lake / Kourtney Douglas / Kathy Rocha / Katherine Quevedo / Kyra Jee / Laura Botnari / Maggie Farren / Melanie Hucklebridge / Nancy Miller / Nia Brass / Olivia Tobolski / Paula Iglesias / Patrese Washington / Racheal Chie / Rutendo Chitondwe / Samantha Hambleton / Selorm Babator-Tettey / Shahd Alwali / Starry Aviles-Espejo / Vithika Muli / Zuri Pettaway
This list grows with every cohort. If you contributed to Lucky Jefferson and your name is missing, reach out at programs@luckyjefferson.com.
Board
Tiffiny Washington, President
Dashone Jackson, Treasurer
Morgan Christie
Mia Dillard
Founder & Advisor
NaBeela Washington
15 West Media Team
In Other News
2026
15 West is honored to be named among this year’s Education Journalism Press Forward grant recipients. We look forward to collaborating with Chalkbeat and continuing to support the growth and development of our student reporters. We extend our congratulations to all organizations recognized.
The Chicago Headline Club Foundation awards internship grants to 15 West and Investigative Project on Race and Equity.
2025
Read about us in Block Club Chicago!
We launched our hyperlocal newsroom, 15 West. Read the debut story now.
Lucky Jefferson and 76 Chicagoland arts and culture organizations received gifts through Culture Forward Chicago.
We’re grateful for The Arts Work Fund’s grant and their support of our volunteer engagement and capacity-building efforts!
The Awesome Foundation is supporting our justice-impacted project Bond!
Read our Poetry Foundation Grantee Profile!
2024
Cook County selected Lucky Jefferson for its Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program!
The Poetry Foundation awarded $1,530,000 in grant funding to us, and 53 organizations!
2023
Amazon Literary Partnership announced its 2023 grant recipients, and Lucky Jefferson is one of them.
Celebrate Lucky Jefferson’s Brandon Blue and his first chapbook with Finishing Line Press.
2022
Lucky Jefferson was awarded a grant by the City of Beaverton Arts Program to produce a print community-based anthology.
Lucky Jefferson was awarded a Vision Grant by Illinois Humanities!
An interview with Write or Die.
Lucky Jefferson’s Fareh Malik was announced as a finalist in Sundress Publications’ 2022 Best of the Net Anthology for his poem in Meliora.
2021
Lucky Jefferson was featured in Poets & Writers annual Independent Publishing Issue.
Lucky Jefferson was announced finalist (and winner of Best Debut) of the 2021 FIRECRACKER AWARDS by CLMP. Celebrate with us.
Lucky Jefferson’s Mohamed Elhassan was recognized nationally by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for his poem in Awake.
Jim Harrington asks NaBeela Washington six burning questions.
A Special Thanks to Our Supporters & Partners
Our members, volunteers, and donors are the fuel that power this organization. We use free software to keep in touch with them, understand their expectations, and work towards their satisfaction with these simple yet robust tools.