Just Buffalo Literary Center
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA nonprofit literary organization that presents writers, develops young readers and writers, and connects Buffalo and Western New York with regional, national, and international literary culture.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Just Buffalo Literary Center (JBLC) is a nonprofit literary organization based in Buffalo, New York, serving the wider Western New York region as a presenter, curator, and educator. Its work combines public literary programming with creative-writing education and community access to contemporary poetry and prose. The organization is best known for bringing distinguished writers to Buffalo, supporting literary exchange, and creating opportunities for young people to read and write creatively. The organization began in 1975, when founder Debora Ott organized a reading by poet Diane di Prima at the Allentown Community Center. What started as a local reading initiative developed into a recurring literary program known as Just Buffalo. During its early years, the organization presented writers and poets including Robert Creeley, Ed Dorn, Alice Notley, Maureen Owen, and Ted Berrigan. Its activities expanded beyond readings to include writing workshops for participants of different ages, a literary magazine, and a radio program. A major institutional development came in 1982 with the creation of the Writers in Education program. The program brought creative-writing instruction into schools and became one of Just Buffalo's central public-service activities. At its peak, it served approximately 4,000 students annually. This education work helped establish the organization not only as a presenter of literary events but also as a sustained participant in youth development and classroom learning. Ott led the organization through more than two decades of community-based literary programming and helped establish its reputation beyond Buffalo. She departed in 1998 after hiring Michael Kelleher as artistic director in the months preceding her departure. Ed Taylor served as executive director from 1998 to 2001. Laurie Dean Torrell became executive director in 2002, beginning a period of administrative and programmatic development. During Torrell's tenure, Just Buffalo relocated from the Tri-Main Center to Buffalo's Market Arcade Building in 2005. The move was associated with an administrative collaboration involving the Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts (CEPA) and Big Orbit Galleries. In 2016, the organization moved again, taking its current space on the second floor at the corner of Washington and Mohawk in downtown Buffalo, above the Western New York Book Arts Center. JBLC's most prominent public program is BABEL, an international literary lecture series conceived by artistic director Michael Kelleher in 2006 and launched in 2007. Co-sponsored by Hallwalls, BABEL presents major writers for public conversations and lectures several times each year. Its guests have included Nobel Prize winners and internationally recognized authors such as Orhan Pamuk, Derek Walcott, V. S. Naipaul, Isabel Allende, Amos Oz, Salman Rushdie, A. S. Byatt, and Chinua Achebe. The series initially took place at Babeville, the recording and performance space associated with musician Ani DiFranco, but moved to Kleinhans Music Hall after outgrowing that venue during its second season. In 2009, BABEL received Buffalo Spree magazine's award for most innovative arts programming across any art form. Through BABEL, Writers in Education, readings, workshops, and related literary initiatives, Just Buffalo occupies a distinctive position in Buffalo's cultural infrastructure: it is simultaneously a local arts institution, a youth-literacy organization, and a gateway through which international literary conversations reach Western New York.
History
Just Buffalo Literary Center was founded in Buffalo in 1975 by Debora Ott, who organized a reading by Diane di Prima at the Allentown Community Center. The initial reading developed into a continuing literary organization that became known as Just Buffalo. During its formative period, the organization brought a range of influential poets and writers to Buffalo, including Robert Creeley, Ed Dorn, Alice Notley, Maureen Owen, and Ted Berrigan. The organization expanded its activities beyond public readings. It offered writing workshops for people of different ages, published a literary magazine, and operated a radio show. These activities established a broad community-literary model in which presentation, participation, and literary media supported one another. In 1982, Just Buffalo created its Writers in Education program. The initiative provided creative-writing instruction in schools and became a defining part of the organization's identity. At its peak, the program reached approximately 4,000 students per year, giving young people structured opportunities to explore poetry, fiction, and personal expression. Ott remained associated with the organization for more than two decades and helped it develop a national profile within the literary field. She left in 1998, after hiring Michael Kelleher as artistic director shortly before her departure. Ed Taylor then served as executive director from 1998 through 2001. Laurie Dean Torrell became executive director in 2002 and led the organization into a new phase of institutional development. In 2005, during Torrell's tenure, Just Buffalo moved from the Tri-Main Center to the Market Arcade Building. The relocation also marked the beginning of an administrative collaboration with CEPA and Big Orbit Galleries. In 2016, the organization moved to its present downtown Buffalo premises at the corner of Washington and Mohawk, on the second floor above the Western New York Book Arts Center. A central milestone in the organization's modern history was the development of BABEL. Kelleher conceived the international literary lecture series in 2006, and the first season began in 2007. The program was designed to bring a global perspective to literary discussion in Buffalo. It was co-sponsored by Hallwalls and initially held at Babeville, a venue associated with musician Ani DiFranco. As attendance grew, BABEL moved to Kleinhans Music Hall late in its second season. BABEL's guest list has included Nobel Prize winners Orhan Pamuk, Derek Walcott, and V. S. Naipaul, along with internationally prominent authors such as Isabel Allende, Amos Oz, Salman Rushdie, A. S. Byatt, and Chinua Achebe. Buffalo Spree named it the most innovative arts-programming initiative across any art form in 2009. Together with Writers in Education and its other readings and workshops, BABEL helped define Just Buffalo as both a regional educational institution and an international literary presenter.
- 2016
Move to current downtown location
[1]Just Buffalo moved to its current space at Washington and Mohawk in downtown Buffalo.
- 2009
BABEL recognized for innovative arts programming
[1]Buffalo Spree honored BABEL as the most innovative arts-programming initiative across any art form.
- 2007
BABEL launches
[1]The BABEL series began with recurring public appearances by major writers.
- 2006
BABEL conceived
[1]Michael Kelleher conceived BABEL as an international literary lecture series bringing global perspectives to Buffalo.
- 2005
Move to the Market Arcade Building
[1]Just Buffalo relocated from the Tri-Main Center to the Market Arcade Building and began an administrative collaboration with CEPA and Big Orbit Galleries.
- 2002
Laurie Dean Torrell becomes executive director
[1]Laurie Dean Torrell took over as executive director, beginning a new period for the organization.
- 1998
Leadership transition
[1]Debora Ott departed after more than two decades, and Ed Taylor began a term as executive director; Michael Kelleher had been hired as artistic director shortly beforehand.
- 1982
Writers in Education established
[1]Just Buffalo launched its in-school creative-writing program for young people.
- 1975
Founding reading
[1]Debora Ott hosted a Diane di Prima reading at Buffalo's Allentown Community Center, establishing the initiative that became Just Buffalo.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit literary curator and educator connecting Western New York audiences and students with creative writing, contemporary literature, and internationally recognized authors.
International literary lecture series · 2007
BABEL
BABEL is Just Buffalo's international literary lecture series, conceived in 2006 and launched in 2007 in partnership with Hallwalls. The program brings prominent writers to Buffalo for recurring public talks and literary conversations. Its guests have included Nobel Prize winners Orhan Pamuk, Derek Walcott, and V. S. Naipaul, as well as Isabel Allende, Amos Oz, Salman Rushdie, A. S. Byatt, and Chinua Achebe. It began at Babeville and later moved to Kleinhans Music Hall as audiences grew.
School-based creative-writing education · 1982
Writers in Education
Writers in Education is Just Buffalo's school-based creative-writing initiative, established in 1982. It provides writing programs for young people and became one of the organization's principal community services. At its peak, the program served approximately 4,000 students per year, extending the organization's literary mission into classrooms across the Western New York region.
Literary events and participatory education · 1975
Public readings and workshops
Just Buffalo has historically presented readings by established poets and writers, organized writing workshops for people of different ages, and supported other forms of literary participation. These activities formed the organization's original community base and continue its role as a curator and access point for literary culture in Buffalo.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007BABEL
Buffalo · Western New York
Just Buffalo and Hallwalls launched an international literary lecture series to bring globally significant authors and broader literary perspectives to Buffalo audiences.
Outcome. The series outgrew its initial Babeville venue during its second season, moved to Kleinhans Music Hall, and received a 2009 Buffalo Spree award for innovative arts programming.
- 1982Writers in Education
Western New York schools
Just Buffalo introduced in-school creative-writing programming for young people as a long-term literary education initiative.
Outcome. The program became a core organizational activity and reached approximately 4,000 students annually at its peak.
Brand decisions
2007
Launch of BABELProduct launchBackground
Michael Kelleher conceived an international lecture series intended to broaden the literary conversation in Buffalo.
Action taken
Just Buffalo launched BABEL with Hallwalls as a co-sponsor.
Aftermath
BABEL attracted internationally prominent authors, outgrew its initial venue, and received recognition from Buffalo Spree in 2009.
2005
Relocation and arts-administration collaborationStrategyBackground
During Laurie Dean Torrell's tenure, Just Buffalo moved from the Tri-Main Center to the Market Arcade Building.
Action taken
The relocation was paired with an administrative collaboration involving CEPA and Big Orbit Galleries.
Aftermath
The move marked a new phase of organizational development before the later relocation to downtown Buffalo's Washington and Mohawk site.
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