Empowering Writing Workshops For Teens & At-Risk Youth

Adrienne Nadeau, a nationally touring spoken word artist, created The Warrior Woman, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to bringing teens and at-risk youth a means of artistic expression through empowering writing workshops. She's joined forces with local artists and community organizations to bring spoken word poetry to students in Tampa Bay and beyond.

This year the Florida school budget was cut by over $300 million. School administrators are desperately trying to keep cuts out of the classroom but, despite research that proves exposure to the arts results in higher GPA and lower drop-out rates, art programs are often the first thing eliminated.

In the face of such severe budget cuts, The Warrior Woman, Inc. launched the "36 Schools" Project. Teaching artists will travel into three-dozen worthy educational institutions and present spoken word poetry programs at no cost to the school. With this program, the organization has found a way to keep creative programming in the schools, without breaking the budget.

Spoken word poetry is a dynamic art form that combines traditional poetry, theatre, and hip-hop, creating a genre that is both contemporary and academically viable. Peppered with slang and pop culture references, teens get so caught up in the excitement they don't realize that they're learning about metaphor, meter, and rhyme. In addition they're told about the benefits of artistic expression and the importance of creative catharsis. The Warrior Woman, Inc. is currently booking shows for April-- which is National Poetry Month and the perfect opportunity to get teens excited about writing.

Adrienne Nadeau, a teaching artist for Ruth Eckerd Hall, created this organization to get teens excited about poetry. Clearly, her goal is being met as Jeff Morganstein, a former teacher and current Pasco school administrator claims: "My students were inspired by her presentation and the relationship between language and creativity." Sandra Kauffer, a teacher at Palm Harbor University High School claimed: "Adrienne Nadeau is the most engaging and interesting speaker I have had the pleasure to know."

In addition, Adrienne Nadeau is planning the "Slam In The Summer" Project, a weeklong creative summer camp for under-privileged teens. The Warrior Woman, Inc. has also partnered with Lizz Straight Ministries to visit correctional facilities in March for Women's History Month. The Studio @620 will present a play by Ms. Nadeau in May as a fundraising event.

Website: http://www.thewarriorwoman.org/