Special Projects

City of Asylum stewards a number of special projects and publication efforts.

All Pittsburghers are Poets

Pittsburgh has long been a home for poetry, and with our project All Pittsburghers are Poets, City of Asylum continues this tradition by establishing the first Poet Laureate Program for Allegheny County with support from RAD (Allegheny Regional Asset District). Learn more…

Celeste Gainey

City of Asylum Poet Laureate of Allegheny County2020-2022

Danielle Obisie-Orlu

Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County 2021-2022

Vincent Folkes

Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, 2020-2021

Maryjean (Mj) Shahen

American Sign Language Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, 2020-2021

Paloma Sierra

Emerging Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, 2020-2021

Sampsonia Way Magazine

Sampsonia Way is an online magazine for literature, free speech, and social justice. Learn more…

City of Asylum Book Publications

In 2015, Sampsonia Way, City of Asylum’s publishing arm, released three books in City of Asylum’s series of banned books. Learn more…

The Thunder of Deep Thought

Night Birds and Other Stories

Generation Zero: An Anthology of New Cuban Fiction

All City of Asylum book publications are available to purchase at the City of Asylum Bookstore.

Pittsburgh Live/Ability: Encounters in Poetry & Prose

Pittsburgh Live/Ability: Encounters in Poetry and Prose is a literary collection that reflects the realities of life for Pittsburghers with disabilities. Learn more…