Young Chicago Authors

Founded in 1991, Young Chicago Authors provides opportunities and mentorship to teens who are interested in creative writing. Working in both school and after-school settings, Young Chicago Authors cultivates youth voices through writing, publication, and performance education. This International Connections Fund award pairs Chicago-based writers with those in the United Kingdom to identify international Hip-hop poets, document their work, and produce an anthology.

Young Chicago Authors, founded in 1991, is a youth literary arts organization working to cultivate the voices of diverse teen writers through artist-led workshops, publications, and school performances. Its mission is focused on contributing to an “affirmative youth culture,” and its year-round programming includes Louder Than a Bomb, the largest teen poetry slam in the country. Young Chicago Authors serves more than 1,500 young people on an ongoing basis. A MacArthur Award recognizes organizations that have excellent programs, that are well-managed, and that are at an inflection point, where they are likely to grow either in size or influence. Young Chicago Authors will allocate most of the Award to increasing its cash reserve; it will use a smaller portion for technology and equipment upgrades.

In support of general operations (over two years).

To support program development (over two years).

In support of general operations (over two years).