My Nonprofit Reviews

Get Lit Words Ignite is a poetry education program that has touched the lives of thousands of youth poets that have either gone through their program or witnessed the youth poets' performances. As a Board Member, I've seen Get Lit grow from a grass-roots organization that survived on the passion of the founder, a handful of poets and volunteers. Now, just over a decade old, Get Lit has become a multi-faceted platform that is enabling poetry to be a vehicle for these young students' talents to lead to roles in: leadership, education, arts, activism, entertainment, music, brand building, and fashion. They are paving the way and enlightening the art and education world that poetry can not be contained in some dusty books or a small theater. The Get Lit poets are performing all around the world from their local schools, Lincoln Center, the UN, to the White House.

Through this program, lives are being changed. Students are encouraged and given the tools to find their "voice", build self-confidence, while honing their writing and critical thinking skills. With the support of their community of peers, teachers, and the Get Lit executive team, these kids realize they are not alone in their journey.

Unlike many kids in high-school that are under anxiety or burn-out from competing to get to a goal that they don't understand or believe in. These poets have inspired me with their talent, focus, and commitment to their craft. They are motivated by the sheer joy that comes from their art.

The relationships that I've had with the Founder and Executive Director- Diane, the executive team, and fellow board members are based on the shared tenets: passion for poetry, believing in the power of the arts to better peoples' lives, and commitment for creating opportunity for these kids.

Get Lit has a way of embracing you- making you feel like all of us have something to contribute and that each of our gifts are valuable. I feel lucky and honored to be a part of their community.