YOUNG CHICAGO AUTHORS
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
WordPlay
WordPlay, YCA’s weekly open-mic, writing workshop, and performance series runs throughout the year on Tuesdays.
Check the Method
Check The Method offers rigorous instruction in poetry and hip-hop spoken word to the most dedicated young writers in the city. Check The Method is Chicago’s premier writing workshop for 14-25 year olds. Come learn how to find inspiration in your daily life, write poems, and craft performances. Check The Method alumni have gone on to publish books and pursue professional writing careers. This workshop is open to all levels and is 100% free.
Queeriosity
Queeriosity is a free monthly poetry salon for LBGTQ and questioning youth aged 12-25 to explore the world through a queer lens. Queeriosity events are hosted by YCA Teaching Artists H. Melt & Dominique James. Each month has a different theme and features a writing workshop, discussion and guest artist or speaker. There are also opportunities for live performance and publishing work in the Queeriosity Zine. This program is free and no prior experience with poetry or performance is necessary. All events are held on second Thursdays 6pm-8pm at Young Chicago Authors unless otherwise noted.
Rooted and Radical Youth Poetry Festival
Young Chicago Authors is proud to announce our Rooted & Radical Youth Poetry Festival, previously named Louder Than A Bomb. This newly imagined festival rethinks scoring and judging to empower participants and get back to the heart of creating a community for young people to share their stories in a non-competitive environment. We invite all youth poets to participate in showcases that will occur on the dates & times listed below. Individual poets will advance by student voting and will be assigned to all-city teams where they will be celebrated during the festival’s final showcase in the spring. All participants will be eligible for scholarships and special prizes.
Write to the City
Approximately 100 young writers & educators from all corners of the city and across the country come together for one week of writing and other art forms. We focus on building community and developing a body of work via workshops led by world-class poets and artists.
Roots Crew
Over this six-week apprenticeship, poets work on their craft and are initiated into the life of a working artist. They take field trips through Chicago’s rich cultural landscape, meet with professional local artists, and participate in YCA’s Write To The City summer camp, all under the guidance of mentors from our artistic team. Once their apprenticeship is complete, Roots Crew becomes YCA’s battalion of talent, speaking and performing throughout the country on behalf of the organization and the work.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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YOUNG CHICAGO AUTHORS
Board of directorsas of 09/08/2023
Anthony Limjuco
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Xavier Ramey
Justice Informed
Daniel O. Ash
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Sharon E. Calhoun
YogaSix
Gerard Gregoire
Allstate Insurance
Kelly Jones
Invest for Kids
Josh Malkin
On A Roll Trucking, Inc.
Leah McGee
Meta
Keith Smith
Lettuce Entertain You
Jennifer Humke
MacArthur Foundation
Lauren Woods
Chicago Community Trust
Maitry Patel
Amazon
Stacy Bert Walker
CNA Group
Nachelle Pugh
The John Walt Foundation
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data