Urban Word NYC

Welcome to the Official Urban Word NYC Blog!

[ohmanis]

#Formation

[jannamorton]

Since it’s the first day of Black History Month, it seems appropriate that I share this portrait of Marjorie Lee Browne, who was one of the first African-American women to receive a doctorate in mathematics. Quoted from Wikipedia: 

Browne’s work on classical groups demonstrated simple proofs of important topological properties of and relations between classical groups. Her work in general focused on linear and matrix algebra. Browne saw the importance of computer science early on, writing a $60,000 grant to IBM to bring a computer to NCCU in 1960 – one of the first computers in academic computing, and probably the first at a historically black school. Throughout her career, Browne worked to help gifted mathematics students, educating them and offering them financial support to pursue higher education. Notable students included Joseph Battle, William Fletcher, Asamoah Nkwanta, and Nathan Simms. She established summer institutes to provide continuing education in mathematics for high school teachers. In 1974 she was awarded the first W. W. Rankin Memorial Award from the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics for her work with mathematics education.

I completed this illustration a while back for Women’s Work, a really awesome zine on women - past and present - working in STEM. The project was put together and curated by the wonderfully talented Shannon May and Celine Loup. You can learn more about the zine and see more art here. 

*EDIT* A math teacher approached me about purchasing a print of this illustration for her classroom. I’ve made 7x10 prints available in my shop, here. 

[refinery29]

Scene after scene, this video reminded me that our lives and culture matter. The most empowering part of the video is seeing a group of Black women working as a unit in a formation. They move together in sync as one. The video is absolutely an homage to Black lives.

Beyoncé’s “Formation” Is The Black-Is-Beautiful Anthem I Needed

Gif: Giphy

(via refinery29)

[urbanwordnyc]

#udub #Alum

[urbanwordnyc]

The 2016 NYC Youth Poet Laureate is...Nkosi Nkululeko! #ypl2016

[urbanwordnyc]

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You absent until proven present - Imani #YPL2016

[urbanwordnyc]

"There is now a hashtag attached to my name" - Aaya #YPL2016 (at 92nd Street Y)

[urbanwordnyc]

Months in the making, these young poets help show you how to #reclaimyourlight tonight #Repost @lady_whitehead ・・・ These young people have been working their butts off for weeks, all in preparation for TONIGHT when we open @nylivearts! Link in bio for tickets!

[urbanwordnyc]

From our sponsor Scatter Radio ! They empower us to amplify youth voice! Set up a Scatter Radio channel today! https://t.co/kU0fdpchOl

[urbanwordnyc]

🎭NEXT Week #reclaimyourlight The latest edition of ‪#‎Journal2Journey is Dec.16th & 17th at New York Live Arts, featuring youth artists @ashes.xo @trace.gif @Jalinaa_pondelle @_beingfrank @iamk! This is the culmination performance of our pre-professional development theater program, linking youth poets with professional theater artists to increase opportunities for achieving life goals, learning new skills, and collaborating creatively with other artists. Led by a director and writing mentor, youth participate in a six-month process to write, stage, perform and present their one-person show at New York Live Arts. Journal to Journey is presented via a re-imagined partnership between #UrbanWordNYC, @HiARTS, @NYLiveArts and #CreativeLegacyProjects. Get your tickets now!!! Link in BIO (at New York Live Arts)

[urbanwordnyc]

Journal to Journey: How Bodies Reclaim Light Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 16-17, 2015 @ 7:30pm @ New York Live Arts 219 W 19th Street, New York, NY 10011 Buy tickets @ http://newyorklivearts.org/…/urban_word_journal_journey_2015. Have you ever tried to ignite a flame and realized there was no fuse? 5 brown bodies breakout in search of life's illumination. What will brighten your day? ‪#‎ReclaimYourLight‬ Journal to Journey is presented via a reimagined partnership between @urbanwordnyc, Hi-ARTS, @nylivearts and @monicadirects' Creative Legacy Projects.

[urbanwordnyc]

This TUESDAY #uwfirstdraft Epic Fall Finale!! It's an #openmic 💯 that you don't want to miss. Featuring Kevin Coval 👀and Nate Marshall😵!! This free show starts at 7pm but you can sign up to spit as soon as 6:30pm. Come share and Tell Your Friends! (at Urban Word NYC)

[urbanwordnyc]

💵We have two weeks left until the application deadline for our FULL RIDE scholarship 💸 program to our partner schools. We welcome any and all #NYC #HighSchoolSeniors to take advantage of this opportunity. The first part of the #scholarship program is for High School Seniors to apply to the partner schools on the Common Application on or before December 18th. All application fees will be waived for the program. Your students can attend a BootCamp session for more information, or they can also apply via email. Please forward this info widely to all eligible NYC youth. All details are listed on the attached PDF or you can call or email ERICA, our Creatively College Bound Director for more information: ERICA: 646-533-5739 ERICA: [email protected]

[urbanwordnyc]

#UdubAlum Alert: The 15th annual 24 Hour Plays on Broadway event harnessed dozens of talented artists, including directors Thomas Kail, Patricia McGregor, and Kathy Najimi, and a cast of performers that included Edie Falco, Taran Killam, John Krasinski, Jay Pharoah, Phylicia Rashad, Molly Ringwald, and Vanessa Williams. Held at the American Airlines Theatre, Urban Word Alumni Lady Logic is now added to the list! Alyssa “Lady Logic” Saunders, whose life on the streets was transformed upon honing and developing her talent writing and performing skills as an #UrbanWord Slam Team Member and other programs throughout the city, eventually earning her the Nagler Scholarship award and Creatively College Bound Scholarship. Saunders opened the evening with a stunning spoken word performance that brought the audience to their feet.

[urbanwordnyc]

#givingtuesday is only 8 days away! Can you share you're most memorable moment with us?

[urbanwordnyc]

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Almost 24hrs away before receiving your Hostess for the #UWMentorShow15 🙌🏾 @mobrowne 🙏🏾 So click that link in the BIO. 👏🎤

[urbanwordnyc]