Lucien Zell – MCLF Foundation founder & board member

Lucien has published half a dozen books of poetry as well as the experimental novel Invisible Bars (in both Czech and English editions). An American based in Prague, he is also a singer-songwriter, actor and photographer. Interview

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Melinda Reidinger – Community Engagement Coordinator

Melinda is a former Fulbright-Hayes Fellow who holds degrees in Literary Studies, Art History, and Cultural Anthropology. Her first book, The White Deer, was published by RITONA Press in 2023, and she anticipates publishing a dystopian novel and a historical novella in 2024. She has lived in the Czech Republic for 25 years and translates Czech academic and literary texts. Interview

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Robert Horvitz – MCLF Foundation board member

A US citizen living in Prague since 1991, Robert coordinated the Soros Internet Program and helped develop broadcast journalism in the post-communist countries. Interview

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Mark Stroup – Editor

Mark has lived in Prague since 2016. A former research fellow at Carnegie Mellon University, he has had careers in writing and publications, community development and education. He is currently working on a novel set in 13th century Central Asia.

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Michael Kierans – MCLF Foundation board member

Michael (a Canadian citizen) and his Czech wife opened and, for more than a decade, operated the KavaKavaKava cafés in Prague — popular meeting places for Czechs and expats alike. A lawyer by training, he now teaches English.

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Ester Šebestová – Assistant Program Manager

Ester worked for more than a decade for different festivals as a photographer and social media coordinator, in Prague and her hometown of Hradec Králové. Now she manages a bookstore and is involved in the online book community.

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Michal Štipský – Tech support

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