H.O.W. Journal

H.O.W. Journal was established in 2006 by Alison Weaver and Natasha Radojcic as a nonprofit publication devoted to art, literature, and social responsibility. The founders sought to create a journal that would be intellectually substantial and visually distinctive while remaining open to both recognized and developing creative practitioners. Its editorial scope included fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art, allowing each issue to function as a cross-disciplinary presentation rather than as a narrowly defined literary review. The acronym H.O.W. stood for Helping Orphans Worldwide, reflecting the charitable purpose built into the project from its creation. The journal was associated with Helping Orphans Worldwide, Inc., described in the reference material as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Proceeds and related fundraising were directed toward organizations and programs assisting children without parental care or living in highly difficult circumstances. Publication was organized around a twice-yearly rhythm, with issues released in spring and fall. The journal’s founders worked with art director Stamatis Birsimijoglou to shape a strong visual identity. Rather than treating fundraising as a separate institutional activity, H.O.W. integrated it into the publication cycle: issue launches served simultaneously as cultural events, promotional occasions, and charity benefits. These launches took varied forms, including costume parties, literary contests, silent auctions, public readings, and live music. Auction items could include donated artwork, designer clothing, jewelry, gift certificates, and other goods or experiences. Events were held at venues such as Macao Trading Co. in Tribeca, New York City, and Carly Simon’s Midnight Farm store on Martha’s Vineyard. The guest roster drew from the journal’s literary and artistic networks and included authors, performers, musicians, and public figures. The available reference material names participants such as Catherine O’Hara, Carly Simon, Harold Ramis, Susan Minot, Mary Gaitskill, Jonathan Lethem, Eileen Myles, Geraldine Brooks, and others. H.O.W.’s literary-development activities included a short-story contest open to writers across themes and experience levels. Susan Minot judged the first contest, and the stated prizes included publication for winning work and cash awards. This initiative reinforced the journal’s interest in presenting emerging voices alongside established contributors. The organization’s beneficiaries included the Atetegeb Worku Memorial Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, associated with Haregewoin Tefarra, and SOS Children’s Villages in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Later work focused on Safe Space in Queens, an organization serving children and young adults connected with the foster-care system. H.O.W. sought to help Safe Space establish an art, music, and filmmaking program for young adults, with the goal of providing creative outlets and supporting confidence, self-esteem, and constructive personal development. The journal was described as being based in Tribeca. Its stated target audience was a younger, culturally engaged readership interested in contemporary arts and motivated by social concerns. This combination of independent publishing, live cultural programming, and philanthropy distinguished H.O.W. from a conventional commercial magazine. The final documented publication was issue 13, released in spring/summer 2017. The supplied reference material does not clarify whether the nonprofit organization formally ceased operations after that issue, whether publication moved online, or whether fundraising continued independently. Accordingly, the brand’s current operating status cannot be confirmed.

1. 2017Issue 13 is published

   Issue 13, released in spring/summer 2017, is the last issue identified in the available reference material.

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2. 2006H.O.W. Journal is founded

   Alison Weaver and Natasha Radojcic establish the nonprofit art and literary journal and its associated humanitarian mission.

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3. First short-story contest is held

   H.O.W. launches a short-story competition judged by Susan Minot, with publication and cash prizes planned for winners.

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4. Fundraising expands to Safe Space programming

   The organization raises support for a proposed art, music, and filmmaking program for young adults associated with Safe Space in Queens.

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A visually oriented nonprofit art and literary journal positioned at the intersection of contemporary culture, emerging creative talent, and humanitarian fundraising.

• H.O.W. JournalArt and literary magazine2006

  The core publication was a biannual nonprofit journal combining fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. It presented prominent contemporary contributors alongside emerging writers and artists, with a strong emphasis on design and cross-disciplinary cultural exchange. The journal’s print issues were connected to fundraising events supporting children’s welfare and foster-care initiatives.

• H.O.W. Journal issue-launch eventsCultural and fundraising events

  Issue launches functioned as public cultural programs as well as fundraising activities. Events included readings, musical performances, costume parties, literary contests, and silent auctions featuring donated artwork, fashion, jewelry, and other items. They helped connect the journal’s editorial community with its humanitarian objectives.

• Safe Space creative-program fundraising

  New York City

  H.O.W. raised funds to help establish an art, music, and filmmaking program for young adults at Safe Space, a Queens organization serving children and young people affected by the foster-care system.

  Outcome. The available reference material describes the fundraising objective but does not confirm whether the proposed program was fully established.

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• International orphan-support fundraising

  United States · Ethiopia · Tanzania

  Through journal proceeds and launch events, H.O.W. supported organizations working with children without parental care, including the Atetegeb Worku Memorial Orphanage in Ethiopia and SOS Children’s Villages in Zanzibar.

  Outcome. The available reference material identifies the beneficiaries but does not provide a complete financial or program-outcome report.

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• 2017Issue 13 becomes the final documented H.O.W. Journal issue

  The last issue identified in the available reference material was issue 13, published in spring/summer 2017.

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• 2006H.O.W. Journal is founded as a nonprofit art and literary publication

  Alison Weaver and Natasha Radojcic founded H.O.W. Journal to publish established and emerging writers and artists while supporting orphan-related humanitarian causes.

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• H.O.W. Journal combines issue launches with charitable fundraising

  The journal’s spring and fall issue releases were accompanied by readings, performances, contests, auctions, and other fundraising events. The available reference material reports that these activities raised more than $40,000 for charity, without specifying a reporting date.

  Campaign
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• H.O.W. Journal supports a creative program for Safe Space youth

  The organization directed fundraising toward an art, music, and filmmaking program for young adults connected with Safe Space, a Queens foster-care organization.

  Campaign
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1. H.O.W. Journal
2. H.O.W. Journal official website