Teaching Artist (Mentor)
Salary: Pay Rate: $75-100 / hr
Type of Position:
Application Post Date:
About Our Organization
Urban Word champions, centers, elevates young marginalized voices as leaders at the intersection of the literary arts and civic engagement.
Through the transformative power of the written and spoken word, Urban Word provides young, creative voices, often those that are marginalized, the tools, training, and platforms to rewrite the narratives that shape their lives and their communities.
As one of the oldest and most comprehensive youth literary arts organizations in the United States, Urban Word and its national community of poets, activists, and educators, has built and continues to lead the youth spoken word movement.
We believe that free self-expression — matured in an enhanced critical literacy environment — improves self-confidence and strengthens educational achievement for NYC’s inner city youth. We promote active literacy, critical thought, and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture, and sexuality. We believe art is a medium for self-definition and self-celebration. Many of our workshops are designed to enhance critical thinking skills, leadership, and to ignite a personal commitment to growth and learning which leads to heightened in-school performance, and greater interest in pursuing higher education.
Headquartered in New York City, Urban Word annually serves more than 25,000 NYC youth between the ages of 13 and 19 through its local and school-based programming efforts, and thousands of youth through its national programs including the National Youth Poet Laureate Program, its signature model for youth poetry and civic engagement replicated in communities across the country.
Job Position Summary
Interested in being a Mentor/Teaching Artist with Urban Word NYC, one of the leading youth arts & literacy organizations in the country?
If you have a passion for working with young people, the ability to create dynamic and culturally responsive lesson plans focused on creative writing, poetry, and/or hip-hop, and have at least two years of in-classroom experience, we invite you to apply to become an Urban Word Mentor!
Roles & Responsibilities
WHAT TO EXPECT
- High Caliber Roster:
Urban Word NYC has been teaching across the city for 20 years! We want you to know that you are applying to join a force of Internationally acclaimed poets and educators experienced in teaching in our classrooms while attending national poetry competitions and touring the world! We are looking forward to adding you to that roster. - Flexible Scheduling:
As we know our mentors are touring artists, working with other organizations, or in school, we work with your schedule! Once a teaching artist, Urban Word will request that you provide your availability and update it whenever it changes so we know when to book you! - Biweekly Payments:
We take paying our artists seriously. - Professional Development Support: Our goal is to have every mentor continuously perfect their craft during their time with us. Through our connections with various arts & educational organizations as well as on-going support, you will have access to number opportunities to learn new skills and techniques for the classroom.
NOTE: The Urban Word NYC Mentor position is a contract position.
It is not a full-time or part-time position.
How to Apply
HOW TO APPLY
EMAIL OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR
- Send an updated, teaching-specific resume.
- Send 3 sample creative writing lesson plans/workshops geared towards middle school or high school students (ages 13-19).
- Include a video of yourself performing (optional)
**As per DOE Requirements, must be able to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. **
JOIN US FOR AN INTERVIEW
Be prepared to talk about your style of teaching & pedagogy.
In some cases, you may be asked to lead a mock workshop to showcase your skills and style.
If you have any questions or to apply, please email our Program Director, Eboni Hogan, at eboni@urbanwordnyc.org.
Urban Word NYC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.