Nigerian native Kenechi Uzor, who graduated from the Denver Publishing Institute (DPI) in 2021, named his small press after the Hausa word Iskanchi, meaning wayward, disobedient, irreverent and nonconforming. Iskanchi Press and its sister publication, “Iskanchi Magazine,” publish works by African writers, especially those that are innovative and experimental.

Uzor was already a well-seasoned publisher and writer in Nigeria when he came to the U.S., but he wanted to gain more understanding of the American publishing world. So Uzor applied to the Denver Publishing Institute’s program in the summer of 2021. He was awarded the DPI Community Scholarship, which, with the support of Park & Fine Literary and Media, provides scholarships to applicants who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color). Park & Fine also provides mentorship support for recipients of the scholarship.

“I needed publishing professionals by whom I could run ideas, people who could offer guidance and answer some questions I had as a newbie publisher in the U.S. Park & Fine’s Andrea Mai, Anna Petkovich and Abigail Koons have been amazing in this regard,” says Uzor.

Read the full story from Denver University.