Introducing Acting Executive Director:

Hannah East

Dear Friends,

We’re writing to share an important recent leadership transition.

Caro Llewellyn, who has served as Executive Director since January 2024, has stepped down from her role to relocate to New York City with her family. An accomplished author and literary advocate, Caro brought a global perspective and dynamic leadership to City of Asylum. During her tenure, we saw significant growth in audience engagement, welcomed two new resident writers, and most recently hosted the highly successful Bridges Creative Summit, which convened over 80 writers, journalists, musicians, and philanthropists from around the world. We are deeply grateful for her exceptional leadership.

We are pleased to share that Hannah East has been appointed Acting Executive Director, effective June 17th. Hannah previously served as City of Asylum’s Director of Finance & Administration. A trusted member of the senior leadership team, she brings deep institutional knowledge of our mission, staff, and systems.

“I couldn’t be more proud to hand the baton to Hannah, with whom I’ve worked closely over the past 18 months,” said Caro. “She is deeply respected by our extraordinary team, and I look forward to seeing City of Asylum continue to thrive under her leadership.”

Hannah’s appointment reflects the Board’s commitment to continuity and stability. Her leadership, paired with her deep passion for our mission, positions City of Asylum to navigate this next chapter with confidence at a time when freedom of expression is under assault everywhere and our efforts to overcome censorship and intimidation are more critical than ever.

Hannah shared, “I’m incredibly honored to step into this role and carry forward City of Asylum’s crucial work. Caro’s leadership has strengthened and enriched our programs, and I’m committed to building on that strong foundation while continuing to evolve and grow our impact. We have a strong and dedicated staff, and together with our community partners, we will continue to amplify diverse voices and ensure their work continues to inspire and connect Pittsburgh communities and beyond.”

Thank you for your continued support of City of Asylum. We look forward to this next chapter and the vital work we’ll continue to do together.

Kevin McKeegan

Chair of the Board

City of Asylum