We're excited to announce that our final grant of 2025 has been awarded to Projekt NYC's Teen Voices from the 5 Boros, a poetry event that will bring together 200 teen poets from every boro across the city. This year's event will culminate in a citywide poetry slam this spring, as well as a published anthology of teen poetry where every participant sees their work in print, creating a lasting record of their creativity and courage.

In their own words: Projekt NYC is a youth‑focused nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people across New York City through creative expression, civic engagement, and community service. We create platforms for youth voices, provide opportunities for leadership, and build programs that help young people imagine and shape a better future for their communities.

We’ll recruit poets through schools, libraries, and youth centers, ensuring diverse representation. We’ll host workshops and mentorship sessions to help teens refine their craft, and we’ll create a stage where their voices can shine. Every participant will walk away not only with a book in hand, but with the confidence that their words matter.

This project shows perseverance because it began as a grassroots idea and has grown steadily despite limited resources. It shows integrity because we center youth voices, ensuring every poet regardless of background has a platform. And it shows passion because we believe teens deserve to be heard, celebrated, and remembered.

When 200 young poets rise together, New York doesn’t just listen, it roars. Their words will echo across the city, reminding us all that creativity, courage, and connection are what make NYC truly awesome.

Join us in uplifting NYC youth! Support our work by sharing our programs with local schools, families, and community groups, connecting us with partners who want to uplift youth voices. Subscribe to our newsletter at http://projektnyc.org to stay engaged with our initiatives and updated on our impact.