NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

Based on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC was founded in 1999, and serves over 15,000 New York City youth annually. UW believes that free self-expression—matured in an enhanced critical literacy environment—improves self-confidence and strengthens educational achievement for New York City's inner city youth. As the premier literary-arts organization in the country, UW provides a safe, dynamic and challenging community for teens to engage and develop their powerful voices.

Urban Word NYC offers a comprehensive roster of in-school and after-school workshops in the areas of creative writing, journalism, literature, college prep and hip-hop. UW also presents local and national poetry slams, as well as open mic series, concerts, teacher’s institutes and festivals. Consistent with its student-centered pedagogy, UW develops youth leaders that serve the organization as members of the Word Wide Youth Leadership Board, as well as providing students with internships and educational scholarships. Urban Word NYC also has partner programs in 42 cities across the United States and abroad.

Urban Word NYC promotes active literacy, critical thought, and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture and sexuality.