House of SpeakEasy’s Educational Initiatives
From author storytelling events to poetry and college readiness programs, we connect published authors with students in New York City public high schools
House of SpeakEasy’s SpeakTogether programs connect writers and students in New York City public schools to foster a love of literature and writing, provide insights into what it means to be a writer, and help students develop the critical thinking skills to pursue higher education.
We bring acclaimed writers (and copies of their books) into high school classrooms and auditoriums, including National Book Award finalist Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; Lincoln Center’s first Poet-in-Residence, Mahogany L. Browne; and award-winning New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds. Reynolds, who found his way to poetry through rap despite early struggles in English classes, inspires students to see their own experiences as fuel for powerful storytelling.
Whether through shared backgrounds or resonant themes, our writers connect with students in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.
2025–2026
1,800+
Students served
32+
Writers in schools
2,000+
Free books distributed
Every program begins with a writer and a room full of students ready to listen, learn, and tell their own stories.
Author Talkbacks bring authors and students together. Two authors read excerpts from their books, interview each other about their craft and writing process, and take part in a student-driven Q&A session. Afterward, the authors sign copies of their books and engage with students.
Our college readiness program supports rising juniors and seniors as they craft their personal narrative for college applications. In the process, students are led to reflect on their unique stories, and build their skills and confidence as writers.
We bring authors into libraries and schools to host creative writing workshops, where they connect with students, talk about their approach to creative writing, and get students writing their own stories.
Our in-school matinees bring acclaimed writers into public school auditoriums and theaters, where they share personal, impactful stories with students. Modeled after our public literary cabaret series Seriously Entertaining at Joe's Pub, student matinees feature writers from various disciplines (poets, playwrights, novelists, journalists), offering inspiring narratives centered on a preselected theme (e.g., "Seize the Day," "You Only Live Once," "Turn the Page").
Our Poetry Program brings poets into schools to lead a focused eight-session workshop series. Participants learn poetry composition methods alongside storytelling and performance techniques. The workshop culminates in a student performance of original poetry before an audience of peers and teachers. In a recent program, students' positive attitudes towards poetry, their classroom community, and writing as a mode of emotional expression all increased significantly.
Through our programs, today's acclaimed authors share their love of writing with tomorrow's.
View All Writers
journalist and author
writer and filmmaker of Jamaican heritage (and a programmer in a former life)
"Much of my work engages and embodies the use of lyric and of the image. As a photographer and painter, I often bring the energy of visual art towards language. I'm shaken and struck by rhythms and arrhythmias. Much of my paintings and photographs employ text and language. It's better for me when it's all messy and complicated."
poet, visual artist, and novelist
SpeakTogether works with NYC public high schools, after-school programs, and community organizations across all five boroughs.
