FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Liz Spikol
Director of Communications
215-873-7345
lspikol@mightywriters.org

MIGHTY WRITERS OPENS CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

May 24, 2022, Newark: Mighty Writers announces the opening of its new location in Newark, New Jersey.

"We are so excited to bring our literacy program for kids to Newark," says Tim Whitaker, executive director of Mighty Writers, a 13-year-old literacy nonprofit with locations in Camden, Atlantic City and Philadelphia. "There's such a strong sense of pride and legacy here — from Amiri Baraka to Shaq to Queen Latifah to Philip Roth to Sarah Vaughan. Newark is a city with great pride and history — we hear it everywhere we go — and we're just honored to have the opportunity to help Newark children develop their voice and writing skills.”

The new site highlights Mighty Writers’ commitment to the Garden State. In Philadelphia since 2009, Mighty Writers opened MW Camden in 2018 and has been offering programming and food and literacy distribution in Atlantic City, as well as select programs in Trenton, for the past two years. We've also run pilot “On the Road” Newark-area programs at East Side High School, KIPP Justice Academy, NHA TREC Newark and NHA Waterfront Newark, and programs at KIPP Life Academy and KIPP LEAD Charter School.

“Newark has a long history of being a great supporter of the arts and literature,” says Catherine Buck, MW’s director of programming for New Jersey and New York, “and we want to tap into that energy and potential with our proven model of literacy education.”

The site will be helmed by Literacy Leader Angelle Whavers, a prolific playwright who won the 2020 New Play-Reading Festival at The Growing Stage in Netcong, New Jersey, and The Chauncey Lester and Elsie Steward Benedict Memorial Prize for playwriting.

“I’m a born and raised Newark artist with a love of the written word,” Angelle says. “This beautiful city helped me grow, and I'm so happy to be able to give back.”

Mighty Writers aims to serve 50 youth in the summer months through seven free programs for kids aged 8 to 18. In the fall, we plan to expand our offerings to include an early literacy "Mighty Toddlers” class in addition to a robust daily after-school program.

Mighty Writers Newark is in the historic 19th-century Dryden Mansion at 59 Lincoln Park, which was lovingly restored and is now home to numerous foundations and nonprofit organizations. There will be an open house on June 1 with free food, dancing, books and games. Press is welcome.

For more information about Mighty Writers, please go to mightywriters.org.