This event is part of national Poetry Coalition programming and is supported by the Academy of American Poets with funds from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Join us for a one-night-only gathering of extraordinary artists to celebrate and support youth poetry programming in New York City. Featuring a line up that collectively includes TED speakers, a National Poetry Series Winner, a New York City Youth Poet Laureate, dozens of published books, and hundreds of live performances around the globe, this celebratory event brings together some of New York’s most lauded performers for one very special evening.
Featuring Performances By: Sarah Kay, Phil Kaye, Mahogany L. Browne, Jon Sands, Crystal Valentine, Zora Howard, Nate Swanson. DJ set by Jive Poetic.
Founded in 1999, Urban Word NYC is one of the oldest and most comprehensive youth literary arts organizations in the United States. Home to the largest teen poetry slam in NYC and the National Youth Poet Laureate program (now replicated in over US 40 across the nation), Urban Word works with 25,000 teenagers annually across the five boroughs of New York City.
Urban Word NYC’s target population reflects the makeup of the public institutions from which they are largely drawn (40% African American, 20% Latino, 18% Asian/Pacific Islander, 15% White, 5% Middle Eastern and 2% Other), over 95% of which attend Title I schools (free or reduced lunch). In addition, Urban Word also serves youth in homeless shelters or alternative incarceration facilities and hosts events for young people in a range of community centers, religious spaces and commercial venues across the city. Urban Word NYC champions the voices of New York City youth by providing platforms for critical literacy, youth development and leadership through free and uncensored writing, college prep and performance opportunities.
Please note that some material may not be suitable for children 14 and under. Please note this event will be mixed seated/standing. Arrive early for best seat selection.