Who we are
As of 2020, 2Leaf Press is published by 2Leaf Press Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with offices in New York. 2Leaf Press was formerly an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS).

The IAAS was founded in 2000 to create multiple literary programs, and we succeeded with phatLiterature A Literary TV Show, phati’tude Literary Magazine, our literary series at the Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center and the Bowery Poetry Club, and other projects. As we found ourselves focusing all of our energy and resources into 2Leaf Press, it made sense to create an entity that reflects this as our sole effort, so 2Leaf Press Inc., a nonprofit multimedia company, was born.

Our mission
2Leaf Press’ mission is to publish multigenerational and multicultural poets, authors, artists, activists and scholars who communicate stories and ideas that inform, entertain, educate, inspire, and connect to readers everywhere. The press is also committed to expanding its publication of books with multimedia projects such as videos, apps, audiobooks and by any other means that will engage and excite our readers. We remain dedicated to publishing works that challenge social justice issues with poetry and nonfiction works. We will also continue to manage and make available phati’tude Literary Magazine, as well.

Our people
2Leaf Press was founded by publisher Gabrielle David in 2012, partly in remembrance of her dad but also because she saw the need to expand her multicultural mandate through books. Throughout the years, some great people have volunteered their time as staff members, memorably: Adam Wier, translator and editor; Kevin E. Tobar Pesántez, poetry editor; and editors Ben Lafferty, Phyllis Huang, and Karen Chau. We have also had help from social media college interns from across the country, and volunteer editors, notably Nicole Catarino, Eileen Sholomicky, and Vynetta A. Morrow, on the TRAILBLAZERS project.

Today, the key personnel of 2Leaf Press are Gabrielle David, publisher and editor; Sean Frederick Forbes, editor of the 2LP EXPLORATIONS IN DIVERSITY series; Carolina Fung Feng, translator and editor; Dé-Jon Graves, art director; and Kathryn Siddell, editor. We occasionally receive additional help from poetry editor Sean Dillon and book cover designs and videos by Vagabond.

All of these individuals and their contributions have aided in the press’ development and has helped shaped 2Leaf Press to what it has become today. As we celebrate 2Leaf Press’ tenth anniversary (2012-2022), we remain committed to publishing and promoting diverse authors who produce multicultural literature.

Our authors
2LP Authors create content through which our shared mission is brought to life with highly-engaging literature from diverse perspectives. Together, we create vibrant and enriching books designed for real-life impact. As a result, some of our authors have received stellar reviews in publications such as Kirkus, Midwest Book Review, the ALA, local publications, and blogs, as well reader reviews from Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble. 2LP Authors have participated in penetrating interviews in print media, blogs, podcasts and radio stations, which you can find at 2LP Press & Publicity.  We also have produced several Book promos, which you can find at Videos. Consider our website a resource to learn about, and connect with, 2LP Authors and their books.

What we do and how we do it
2Leaf Press produces high-quality and beautifully produced hardcover and paperback print and eBook editions. We also publish books through our 2LP Series.

2Leaf Press’ books are printed and distributed by the University of Chicago Press (UCP). 2Leaf Press is the first U.S. Black/Brown woman-led publisher to be marketed and distributed by UCP. This certainly was not intentional but became an added plus and is worth mentioning as a major milestone that we decided to retire our catchphrase “A Small Press With Big Ideas” to “A Black/Brown Female-Led Press” as we continued to build and expand 2Leaf Press.

Through the resources of the University of Chicago Press, we have extended our global reach, which allows us to continue doing what we do best: collaborating with authors at every stage of the publishing process, from design and editorial to sales and marketing, production and distribution. At the same time, we fiercely protect our authors’ intellectual property and champion freedom of expression, ensuring that their voices carry beyond the page and into the folds of societies and communities around the globe. Our team of publishing professionals is committed to helping authors realize their very best work and finding innovative new ways of bringing stories and ideas to audiences worldwide.

What makes us unique is that 2Leaf Press is enmeshed in the digital world by taking full advantage of today’s technology. We publish print books using print-on-demand (POD) and conventional short-run jobs and create high-quality eBooks that meet EPUB and XHTML standards. 2Leaf Press’ print books and eBooks are available on our website through the University of Chicago Press, which exclusively offers discounts, as well as all major online outlets, and brick and mortar bookstores.

Our accomplishments
Since its founding in 2012, as of 2023, 2Leaf Press has published 40 authors, 57 print books, and approximately 40 eBooks. Through our 2LP EXPLORATIONS IN DIVERSITY series, 2Leaf Press has collectively published 200 authors’ personal narratives and essays, and have published multiple books by several authors. What our authors share in common is the different ways they see the world through a cultural lens that is reflected in the fiction and nonfiction books they have created in multiple genres. They use their personal experiences as varied as travel, art, politics, social issues and more to allow readers to peer into and discover new ideas and perspectives.

Our end game
2Leaf Press is strongly attached to its home in New York City, its native language and landscape, and its vast richness of cultures, so we consider ourselves “local internationalists,” committed to bringing readers an eclectic mixture of multicultural writers. As a small press, we publish a limited number of original titles (approximately ten books per year) during Spring and Fall, so we’re only committed to publishing the highest quality writing with an original approach in concept and execution that can make a difference.

2Leaf Press, a Black/Brown female-led press.