THE MISSION OF URBAN WORD NYC (THE ORGANIZATION) IS TO CHAMPION THE VOICES OF NEW YORK CITY YOUTH BY PROVIDING PLATFORMS FOR CRITICAL LITERACY, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH FREE AND UNCENSORED WRITING, COLLEGE PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. URBAN WORD NYC SERVES ASPIRING YOUNG WRITERS FROM ACROSS NEW YORK CITY'S FIVE BOROUGHS. IT'S TARGET POPULATION REFLECTS THE MAKEUP OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FROM WHICH THEY ARE LARGELY DRAWN (40% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 20% LATINO, 18% ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER, 15% WHITE, 5% MIDDLE EASTERN AND 2% OTHER), OVER 95% OF WHICH ATTEND TITLE I SCHOOLS (FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH). IN ADDITION, UW ALSO SERVES YOUTH IN HOMELESS SHELTERS OR ALTERNATIVE INCARCERATION FACILITIES AND HOSTS EVENTS FORYOUNG PEOPLE IN A RANGE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS, RELIGIOUS SPACES AND COMMERCIAL VENUES ACROSS THE CITY.