named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
ASL Slam
Monthly event providing a platform for poets to perform in American Sign Language
Food is Like Poetry
Video series featuring eight poets at their favorite New York City restaurants during the pandemic, blending food and spoken word
Nuyorican Bowery Slam
Weekly poetry slam event hosted at Bowery Poetry Club, continuing the legacy of the Nuyorican Poets Café during renovations
Poetry Is Like Bread Ghazal
Collaborative international poetry project created during the pandemic, inspired by Pablo Neruda's metaphor of poetry as sustenance
Poetry is Bread Podcast
Podcast series featuring poets and spoken word artists, exploring poetry's role in social change and resilience during crisis
Resilience Poetry
Group poetry reading and performance series responding to racial injustice and the death of George Floyd
Se Buscan Poetas
Multilingual open mic series for poets and musicians from around the world, hosted in Spanish, Galician, English, and other languages
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Literary Events & Workshops 3 activities
- Host multilingual open mic eventsRuns a multilingual open mic series, Se Buscan Poetas, and other open mic events featuring guest poets and musicians from around the world in languages including Spanish, Galician, English, and American Sign Language.
- Host special poetry readings and commemorative eventsHosts special events such as memorial readings, anniversary celebrations, and collaborative group poems addressing social issues, including a reading for Hal Sirowitz, the Bowery Women & Friends Anniversary Reading, and a poetry response to the death of George Floyd.
- Host weekly Nuyorican poetry slam seriesHosts the Nuyorican poetry slam series weekly on Monday evenings at the Bowery Poetry Club, including during the Nuyorican Poets Café's building renovation, at 308 Bowery in Manhattan.
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
- Produce and present original poetry performancesDevelops and produces works by emerging poets for performance on stage and other media, including theatrical concert collaborations such as the world premiere of "Life Poem" by Bob Holman and the Mivos Quartet, and presents public performances of such works.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produce poetry podcastsProduces and releases the “Poetry Is Bread” and “The Art of Spoken Word” podcasts, hosted by Bob Holman, which share poetry as a transformative and widely accessible art form and showcase live events at the Bowery Poetry Club.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Organize pandemic-era poetry and community initiativesLaunched the "Poetry is Like Bread" project during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a poetry and food series across 8 NYC restaurants and a collaborative ghazal poem with international poets to provide cultural and emotional nourishment.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$148K
Contributions & grants$141K95%
Program service revenue$7K5%
Investment income$1050%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$102K
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$22K
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$82K
Cash$82K
Investments$0
Liabilities$440
Net assets$82K
Liquid reserves9.7 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +83.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 7
- CHUCK SMITH — SECRETARY
- JOSHUA RAFF — BD MEMBR, CH
- LILLY WEI — BOARD MEMBER
- RAM DEVINENI — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT HOLMAN — BD MEMBER, F
- SOPHIE ELSBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- WILLARD MORGAN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Atlantico Partner — Media partner that has featured Bowery Poetry programming.
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Collaborated on the production of the Food is Like Poetry series during the pandemic.
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Venue host for the Bowery Women & Friends Anniversary Reading.
- City Council Government — Partner with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in supporting the Creative Engagement grant.
- Diario 16 Partner — Media partner that has featured Bowery Poetry programming.
- El Diario Partner — Media partner that has featured Bowery Poetry programming.
- Global Ties U.S. Government — Implementing partner of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund, which funds the podcast series.
- LMCC Government — Administrator of the Creative Engagement grant funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
- Mivos Quartet Partner — Performed in collaboration with Bob Holman in the world premiere of "Life Poem" at Bowery Poetry Club.
- New York City Department Cultural Affairs Government — Funded the launch event in part through Creative Engagement, in partnership with the City Council.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provider of public funds through the Creative Engagement grant for the Resilience Poetry event.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funder providing additional support for the podcast series.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provider of additional support for the Resilience Poetry program with the support of the NY Governor and Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding support to Bowery Arts and Sciences, ltd. with the support of the NY Governor and Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supported Bowery Poetry Club and Bowery Arts and Sciences, ltd. with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, supported by the NY Governor and Legislature.
- Nuyorican Poets Cafe Partner — Hosts the Nuyorican Bowery Slam series at the Bowery Poetry Club during the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's building renovation.
- Nuyorican Poets Café Partner — Hosts the Nuyorican poetry slam series at the Bowery Poetry Club during the Nuyorican Poets Café's building renovation.
- Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Government — Partner in implementation of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund.
- Partners of the Americas Funder — Administered funding for the Poetry is like Bread rapid response project during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Partners of the Americas Government — Administrator of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for U.S. Alumni, which funded the Resilience Poetry program.
- Partners of the Americas Partner — Administered the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for U.S. Alumni, which funded the "Poetry is Like Bread" project.
- Rattapallax Partner — Co-organizer of the Poetry is Bread podcast series.
- Rattapallax Partner — Co-organizer of the Resilience Poetry program.
- Rattapallax Partner — Co-produced the Food is Like Poetry series with Bowery Arts and Science Ltd.
- Rattapallax, Inc. Partner — Collaborated with Bowery Arts and Sciences, ltd. and Bowery Poetry Club on programming supported by public arts funding.
- U.S. Department of State Government — Funded the "Poetry is Like Bread" project through the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for U.S. Alumni.
- U.S. Department of State Government — Funder of the Resilience Poetry program through the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for U.S. Alumni.
- U.S. Department of State Government — Sponsor of the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund that funds the podcast series.
- Vice Versa Partner — Media partner that has featured Bowery Poetry programming.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Arts-Based Dialogue on Racial Injusticemethodology: arts-based_dialogueBy using poetry and spoken word performances to address racial injustice, we promote public dialogue and critical reflection on race in America, because artistic expression creates emotionally resonant, accessible entry points for difficult social conversations.
- Deaf Cultural Integration in Performancemethodology: deaf_cultural_integrationBy providing performance opportunities in American Sign Language, we affirm Deaf artistic expression and integrate it into mainstream poetry traditions, because inclusion of Deaf voices enriches the cultural fabric and expands the definition of poetic performance.
- Interdisciplinary Artistic Experiencesmethodology: interdisciplinary_performanceBy integrating live poetry with contemporary classical music, we create interdisciplinary performances that expand artistic possibilities, because combining distinct art forms generates novel aesthetic experiences and attracts diverse audiences.
- Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Inclusionmethodology: multilingual_inclusionBy creating multilingual, inclusive spaces for poets and musicians from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, we foster global artistic collaboration and shared expression, because language diversity strengthens community connection and mutual understanding.
- Poetry as Essential Nourishmentmethodology: poetry_as_essential_nourishmentBy treating poetry as a fundamental human necessity like bread, we ensure universal access across social classes, because this framing fosters collective resilience, inclusivity, and cultural sustenance—especially during crises.