Mission
THE MISSION OF URBAN WORD NYC (THE ORGANIZATION) CHAMPIONS AND ELEVATES YOUNG, MARGINALIZED VOICES AS LEADERS AT THE INTERSECTION OF LITERARY ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD, URBAN WORD EQUIPS YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS, TRAINING, AND PLATFORMS TO REWRITE THE NARRATIVES THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. AS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH LITERARY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, URBAN WORD LEADS BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM, CULTIVATING A NETWORK OF POETS, CIVICALLY ENGAGED LEADERS, AND EDUCATORS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVE CHANGEMAKERS.