(Black PR Wire) Yonkers, NY  – With April being National Poetry Month, Yonkers Arts’ Poet in Residence’ is spearheading a series of programs, events, and creative workshops centered around the education, history, and various aspects of poetry and spoken word performance. 

Yonkers Arts continues to engage the Yonkers community while consistently providing opportunities for the creative development of local creatives. And in celebration of National Poetry Month, the organization will be activating a series of initiatives designed to positively impact creatives of all ages and backgrounds. The entire month of April will feature educational programs for the youth. Creative-writing workshops for adults, spoken word and open-mic nights, and finally a community poetry festival at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. 

“It’s a great honor to serve as ‘Poet-in-Residence’ for Yonkers Arts allowing me to have the opportunity to curate programs designed to support, lead, and engage developing writers and poets in our community,” says Phyllisha Villanueva. 

National Poetry Month will feature the following programs and events, all of which will be free to the public:

• Daily Poetry Challenges 
• Poetry Showcase at ‘A Piano Shop’ at YOHO - April 16th at 7pm.
• Youth Open-Mic and Spoken Word event at the Yonkers YMCA - April 26th.
• ‘A Poetic Cyph’ Adult Creative Writing Workshop & Performance Artist Development - April 21st at 7 pm (at the Yonkers Arts Space)
• Yonkers Arts x Yonkers Public Library First Annual Poetry Festival - April 30th at 1 pm. 

Executive Director, Ray Wilcox states, “The Poet in Residence program is a unique opportunity for a local poet, author, or teaching artist to directly engage aspiring writers and poets in our community. 

“My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for poets and poetry lovers to cultivate togetherness and community through the poetic form,” explains Phylli V. “I come from a community that has been thriving in the arts and culture scene and it’s important in knowing you have the support from that very same community in coordinating these initiatives.”

For more information on all of Yonkers Arts’ offerings for National Poetry Month, follow Yonkers Arts on all social platforms. 

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About

Yonkers Arts was founded in 2007 by a collection of community leaders who perceived the need for an all-encompassing arts organization for a city the size of Yonkers. The mission of Yonkers Arts is to develop a strong, effective, and cooperative network of artists, cultural organizations, and members of the community to promote and encourage the arts in the City of Yonkers. 

For more information, please visit: www.yonkersarts.org