The Word is a transformative literary arts program powered by an intergenerational cooperative of diverse, justice-minded spoken word artists. The Word builds community by growing radically inclusive writing and performance programs grounded in poetry, rap, and song. Through its many partnerships, The Word brings a creative life force into social action groups, movements, and institutions – expanding our collective capacity to re-imagine ourselves and our world.
2025-2026 New Haven Youth Poet Laureate
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The New Haven Youth Poet Laureate is the official poet appointed to represent the city of New Haven.
A "poet laureate" is a poet officially appointed to a position of honor, often by a government or institution, to represent the nation or region through their poetry, and is expected to write poems for important occasions.
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Applications are due on May 5th
GET INVOLVED WITH THE WORD
video by Travis Carbonella
Want to get involved with The Word?
Check out some of our programming below:
MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE WORD
Managing Director
Project Coordinator
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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This is The Word's first album ever! It is a collection of poems and raps created by students in New Haven high schools (and beyond) inspired by the NEA Big Read book, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine.
In partnership with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and The Future Project, students at the citywide Weekly Word Workshops and in The Word’s residencies at High School in the Community, New Haven Academy, Wilbur Cross, Riverside Academy and Sound School created written and spoken word responding to Citizen. Select pieces were then recorded at Baobab Tree Studios and performed at The Word’s Citizen Jam at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Inbox us to order your hard copy! **Contains some explicit language**