The mission of The Writer's Garret is to foster the education and development of readers, writers, and audience members by putting them in touch with quality literature, each other, and the communities in which they live and write. In May of 1995, The Writer’s Garret incorporated to become the first nonprofit literary center in North Texas. Over the next twenty-three years, The Garret has connected over 2 million readers, writers and audience members with quality literature and each other. In that time, the organization has been awarded 20 NEA grants; twice ranked the #1 literary project and three times the #1 literary arts organization by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Many programs, including the Writers Studio, the acclaimed literary series taped for NPR-affiliates, received laurels as “Best of Dallas” and “Best of Big D.” Garret programs have brought to Texas audiences the late Umberto Eco, Barbara Kingsolver, Julia Alvarez, and many others, as well as Texas originals Naomi Shihab Nye, Owen Egerton, Tony Diaz, Tim Seibles, et. al. Belief that the literary arts are essential underscores every program. From Writers In Neighborhoods & Schools youth programs, to Write To Heal which utilizes writing as a tool to help heal individuals suffering from physical and psychological trauma, to workshops for local writers at every level of development, The Writer's Garret is committed to inclusively supporting the community from which it emerges and within which it operates.