As a grassroots organization celebrating 20 years, becoming a nonprofit was a pivotal change institutionally, requiring a board that believes in Torch’s mission to amplify Black women writers by providing accessible resources and an opportunity to tell their stories. Every board member from the past to the present has embodied that goal wholeheartedly. In gratitude, we’re excited to announce transitions within the board and extend our immense gratitude to retiring board treasurer, Candace Lopez. 

Changing roles within our board are directors Dana Weekes and Rachel Winston. Dana Weekes, a public policy consultant, Torch Feature and Pushcart Prize nominee, will now serve as the board’s treasurer. In her new role, she will provide financial oversight to ensure Torch’s transparency and sustainability. Rachel Winston, an Austin-based archivist and curator, will now serve as the board’s secretary. In her new role, she will provide accountability through documented records to ensure Torch’s compliance and governance as a non-profit.

Retiring after three years of support is Candace Lopez, a non-profit professional with over 18 years of experience in fundraising and development. She is a Development Generalist with a specialization in individual giving, program development, and operational efficiency. She is humbled to have raised money for organizations in Austin, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her fundraising portfolio is diverse and spans various causes, including civil liberties, the arts, higher education, domestic violence, and gender equity. She recently launched her consulting practice, Small Seeds Consulting. Candace grew up in the Texas panhandle, and her family moved to St. Anthony, Idaho, where she attended high school. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Spanish from Pepperdine University and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies with a certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We are forever grateful to Candace for her service and excited to witness the growth of Torch Literary Arts under the leadership of our 2026 Board of Directors. 

For more information about Torch Literary Arts and our team, please visit https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/team.

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About Torch Literary Arts

Torch Literary Arts (Torch) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established with love and intention in 2006 to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. TORCH has featured work by Toi Derricotte, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Elizabeth Alexander, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats.

Help Torch continue to publish and promote Black women writers by donating today.

Media Contact Information:

Brittany Heckard

Communications Associate

bheckard@torchliteraryarts.org 

(512) 641-9251