On October 6, 2009, the NYC Voter Assistance Commission with Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott and Urban Word NYC named 16 year-old Zora Howard the first New York City Youth Poet Laureate in a groundbreaking Voter Slam held at the Nuyorican Poets Café. Some 75 youths from all boroughs of New York attended and submitted applications to participate in a series of intense writing workshops hosted by CUNY on the Brooklyn, LaGuardia, John Jay, and Lehman College campuses. Of these 75 youths, 12 made it through to the final, where the winner was chosen.
“VAC is pleased to name the first NYC Youth Poet Laureate,” stated Onida Coward Mayers, Executive Director NYC Voter Assistance Commission; “Zora Howard will travel our great city over the next year encouraging and engaging younger New Yorkers to be civically involved members of our democratic process.”
“In our ever-changing world, it is more important than ever today that young people have a voice and that those voices are heard,” said Deputy Mayor Walcott. “By offering opportunities for them to share their opinions and encouraging them to be creative gives them the freedom to discover their own abilities and understand the importance of their opinions. It’s great to see so many young people, including the first-ever NYC Youth Poet Laureate Zora Howard, emerge among those voices.”
The finalists were judged on not only their literary prowess but also their civic and community engagement. Along with celebrity judge Malik Yoba were poets Bob Holman, FM Diva and Stacey Szymaszek, VAC commissioner Loretta Prisco and Department of Education Family Engagement Officer Martine Guerrier.
“What made this night extra special was not only that these were some of the most talented young poets in New York City, but that ALL of them have an impressive track record of community service, civic engagement and dedication to leadership in their schools and communities” said Michael Cirelli, Executive Director of Urban Word NYC.
The NYC Voter Poet Slam was a joint project of the New York City Voter Assistance Commission (VAC) and Urban Word NYC and was held to celebrate Youth Voter Education Day. As part of the fourth annual Voter Awareness Month program, an annual citywide, nonpartisan community outreach campaign to promote voter registration, awareness and participation, the NYC Voter Poet Slam program was intended to engage and celebrate youth voices. The Voter Assistance Commission and Urban Word NYC recognize that youth voice and community engagement are vital for increasing voter participation in the democratic process and empowering young people to effect positive changes in their communities and beyond.
“We are proud to create programs that encourage voter education and awareness among younger New Yorkers” stated Dr. Jeffrey F. Kraus, “The Youth Poet Laureate will serve as the youth voice in empowering youth in our city.”
All 12 finalists performed wonderfully, but it was Zora Howard who proved most impressive as she was named the NYC Youth Poet Laureate with first runner up Cynthia “Ceez” Keteku and second runner up Jesica Blandon.
While Ms. Howard has an extensive literary background, she is also civically engaged in many endeavors, and does work with the Brotherhood-Sistersol. She is a Liberation Program Member and Community Organizer, Summer Liberation School Co-Facilitator, Poetry Workshop Co-Facilitator, International Studies Program Member and is the acting Senior Class President and member of the Student Representative Group at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
“It is an unbelievable honor and I am humbled by it,” said Ms. Howard. “I am so excited to see what this will bring!”
2009-2010 Youth Poet Laureate Slam Participants
Christian Eatman – QUEENS; Student at Talent Unlimited High School
Lauren Anderson – MANHATTAN; Student at The Beacon School
Justin T. Long-Moton – BRONX; Student at Belmont Preparatory High School
Salma Elmehdawi – QUEENS; Student at Fordham University
Dom O Briggs – BROOKLYN; Graduate Transit Tech High School
Thaihera Nurse – QUEENS; Student at Townsend Harris High School
Ishmael Islam – BROOKLYN; Student at Pratt Institute
Nina Spierer – STATEN ISLAND; Student at Barnard College
Jordan Franklin – BROOKLYN; Student at Brooklyn College
Cynthia “Ceez” Keteku –BRONX; Graduate South Bronx High School
Jesica Blandon – BRONX; Student at Dream Yard Preparatory School
Zora Howard – MANHATTAN; Student at LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts
The NYC Voter Assistance Commission is a nonpartisan government agency, established by a revision to the New York City Charter in 1988, dedicated to increasing voter participation in the democratic process by encouraging and facilitating voter registration and voting by all eligible United States citizens who are residents of New York City. Each October, VAC celebrates Youth Voter Education Day as part of its Voter Awareness Month initiatives. It is a citywide, nonpartisan campaign to stimulate greater voter awareness and participation in New York City municipal, state and federal elections.
Founded on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC (UW) has been at the forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999. UW presents literary arts education and youth development programs in the areas of creative writing, journalism, college prep, literature and hip-hop. UW works directly with 15,000 teens per year in New York City alone. Urban Word NYC believes that free self-expression - matured in an enhanced critical literacy environment - improves self-confidence and strengthens educational achievement for NYC’s inner-city youth. UW promotes active literacy, critical thought, and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture, and sexuality.