Curated and moderated by Allison Charette. With Olivia Sears, Susan Bernofsky, Erica Mena, Esther Allen, and Lisa Carter.

Have you ever seen something missing in the industry and thought, “Hey, I could fix that, if only I knew how”? Several leaders in literature, translation, publishing, and advocacy will gather in this roundtable to discuss what they saw lacking, and how they filled that gap with an organization of their own creation (including the PEN World Voices Festival, the Center for the Art of Translation, Translationista, Intralingo, Anomalous Press, and the Emerging Literary Translators’ Network in America). In addition to showcasing all of the participants’ initiatives, this roundtable will give examples of how to get from an idea to an actual living organization. Discussion will focus on ideas, obstacles, and widely-applicable strategies for overcoming any challenges.