Find your passion and share your voice
All Writes Reserved (AWR)
Youth Spoken Word Festival
Grab a pen and start your journey.
“Spoken word poetry gifted me something I’d never felt comfortable with–the power to use my own voice. I couldn’t be more thankful to my peers and mentors in the program who opened the door for me to step into my own authenticity.
AWR gives students more than just poetry and speaking skills. It grants us permission to exist, to take space, to share our words unapologetically, and to find community in the aftermath.”
Samuel Nichols,
Teaching Artist
Self-expression through poetry
No matter how young, everyone has a story to tell and big ideas waiting to be unleashed. Language gives students the power to inspire, express emotion, craft works of art, and bring communities together.
We provide the tools
All Writes Reserved (AWR) empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. We provide free spoken word poetry lessons and workshops with local writers, monthly all-ages open mics, and always a space to be heard. In classrooms throughout Nebraska and Iowa, high school students receive the encouragement and support necessary to foster their writing from August to April over the course of their school year.
At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. Audiences clap, snap, and holler for each brave poet that meets the stage.
We also encourage youth poets to enter the annual Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Competition.
How it works
Want to start an All Writes Reserved (AWR) team at your school? Find a trusted teacher or adult at your school/community site who is willing to sponsor weekly writing workshops and tell them about the program! Our Teaching Artists will do the work, they just have to show up and be present! Have them email director@newriters.org and ask how to get involved. Next, recruit three additional writers (ages 13-19) to your AWR team. Finally, attend AWR practice and start telling your story - you'll be ready for the stage in no time!
Reaching 500+ students every year
Spaces to learn and share
Youth poets in the AWR program have access to open mics, our AWR Youth Spoken Word Festival hosted each spring, our Visiting Writer Series, and other upcoming events.
Building community
Our program reaches 30+ schools across Nebraska as well as parts of Iowa. Each year brings new voices, new ideas, and new stories. Participation in AWR helps young writers find their place in the larger writing community.
Supported by our partners
Volunteer, share, give
The Nebraska Writers Collective is run by local artists and educators. We’re here for artists of all ages. We help Nebraska retain some of the best artistic talent in the state by offering a host of paid work opportunities for accomplished area creatives. This work can’t be done without the community's gracious support and our partners. To sign-up and judge a poetry slam, send an email to info@newriters.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram @newriters
Donate
Your gift will help pay our NWC Teaching Artists for their classroom instruction, rent accessible venues for events and writing workshops, and ensure students and workshop participants have the tools they need to be successful. All donations are tax-deductible. We are grateful for donations of all sizes, which go a long way towards keeping All Writes Reserved running and supporting as many students as we can.
Giving to the NWC changes lives. Thank you for any and all donations.
