Aaron Zimmerman, Founder and Executive Director: Mr. Zimmerman founded NYWC based on the success of the workshops he began in April 2000 at The Prince George, a supportive housing community for low-income, formerly homeless and special-needs populations. He has been leading creative writing workshops since 1997 through Manhattan Writers, a writing workshop program he founded. In that time, he has worked with hundreds of writers of all genres, ages and backgrounds. He was named as a 2005 Petra Fellow by The Petra Foundation for his "distinctive contributions to the rights, dignity and autonomy of others." (Read Aaron Zimmerman's profile by The Petra Foundation here.) He was named as one of the "Top 100 New Yorkers" of 2003 by New York Resident magazine for his work with NYWC. He also has taught creative writing at City College.

Mr. Zimmerman has an MA in Creative Writing from City College. His novel, By The Time You Finish This Book You Might Be Dead (Spuyten Duyvil, October 2003), was selected by Poets and Writers as a "New and Noteworthy" book. His fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including The Brooklyn Rail, Georgetown Review, South Dakota Review, Jeopardy and Mid-America Poetry Review. In addition, Mr. Zimmerman has extensive business and legal experience in the entertainment field, most recently as Director of Law Administration for Showtime Networks Inc.

Nancy L. Weber, Youth Program Director. Prior to joining NYWC's staff in September 2006, Ms. Weber was a Founding Board Member of NYWC. She has led a creative writing workshop at the Prince George, a supportive housing facility in New York City. Ms. Weber ’s work can be found in Evergreen Review, Dicey Brown, and VerbSap. She has a BFA in Film/Television from New York University. She lives and writes in Brooklyn.

Deborah Clearman, Program Director: Ms. Clearman has led NYWC's workshop for seniors at the 14th Street Y since early 2003. She wrote and illustrated The Goose's Tale (Whispering Coyote Press) for children. Her short stories for adults have been published by various literary journals, including Connecticut Review, Ginger Hill, Oasis, Taj Mahal Review, and Quality Women’s Fiction. She has also performed numerous public readings and storytellings in New York City, at venues such as The Moth, The Pink Pony, Cornelia Street Café and others. Ms. Clearman has more than twelve years of experience teaching art and English as a foreign language, including a year in Todos Santos, Guatemala. Ms. Clearman has an MFA in painting from Indiana University and her paintings have appeared in galleries and exhibitions throughout the country.