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.
Overview
The Word creates poetry and spoken-word programming that helps young people strengthen their writing, develop their voices, build confidence, and connect with their communities.
Through partnerships with schools and educators, our professional Teaching Artists bring poetry into classrooms through engaging, student-centered experiences that combine creative writing, literary exploration, discussion, performance, and public speaking.
Programs can be tailored to complement classroom learning, support educational goals, and meet the needs of individual schools and student groups. While The Word is rooted in New Haven, our school-based programming reaches young people throughout Connecticut.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
CURRENT SCHOOL PROGRAMS
The Word partners with schools throughout Connecticut to bring poetry, spoken word, creative writing, and performance into educational spaces. Our current school programming includes Connecticut Poetry Out Loud, customized in-school residencies and workshops, and one-time Pop-Up Workshops. Programs are led by experienced Teaching Artists and can be adapted to meet the needs, schedules, and educational goals of participating schools.
CONNECTICUT POETRY OUT LOUD
In partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts, The Word serves as the Community Activator for Connecticut Poetry Out Loud, part of the national poetry recitation program for high school students.
The Word coordinates professional Teaching Artists who work directly with participating schools and students over approximately three weeks. Students explore significant works of poetry while developing skills in literary analysis and interpretation, public speaking, performance, and confidence.
Programming can be adapted to work within participating schools' schedules and needs while preparing students for school-level Poetry Out Loud competitions. Selected students advance to the Connecticut State Finals, where the state champion is chosen to represent Connecticut at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C.
POP-UP WORKSHOPS
Pop-Up Workshops offer a shorter introduction to The Word's poetry and spoken-word programming. These one-time experiences combine performance, discussion, creative exercises, and writing to engage students in poetry and self-expression.
Pop-Ups can be incorporated into a classroom, school program, assembly, or special event and are a great option for schools looking for a focused creative experience without committing to a multi-session residency.
IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS
The Word's Teaching Artists work directly with existing classes to help students critique, write, revise, and perform poetry, spoken word, and hip-hop. Teaching Artists collaborate with classroom teachers to connect student writing and creative expression to existing curriculum while tailoring programming to the needs and interests of each class.
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Through writing, discussion, revision, and performance, students strengthen their skills as writers and communicators, build confidence, and develop their individual voices. Workshops can also create space for students to explore social justice, advocacy, identity, and issues that matter to them, with these conversations connected back to classroom learning.
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Teaching Artists can help students prepare original work for performance opportunities, including youth poetry events and slams, while supporting students who are newer to public performance. Teaching Artists may also work with classroom teachers to adapt activities and lessons for continued use beyond the residency.
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Programming can range from individual workshops to multi-session residencies, with the number of sessions, content, and focus developed in collaboration with each school.
Clips from Pop Up events
"Ja-Sun and Dyme spent six wonderful Wednesdays in my Short Fiction & Poetry class at Common Ground High School. The result? A powerful gift of voice and agency for my mostly introverted group, who felt willing and eager to share and show their words, their vulnerabilities, and their joys. Ja-Sun and Dyme were present with their insistence that every single voice does matter. "
In School Workshops
