Our Supporters

We couldn't do it without you!

We are a small but mighty force of teachers and artists, who are here for the sole purpose of giving young people a way to tell their stories, whatever form that takes. Writing can free your soul or a nation, help your heart heal or the world grow, or reveal who you really are or want to be.

Every organization and individual listed here understands the importance of creative writing and why supporting Uptown Stories is vital to our young writers, and the community of upper Manhattan. Thank you for supporting us – we couldn’t do it without you!

Major Funders

Ava's Smile
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
Elephant Rock Foundation
Find Your Light Foundation
Kettering Family Philanthropies
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine
Medical Center Neighborhood Fund
NY State Senator Robert Jackson
William T. Grant Foundation
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
Leon Levy Foundation
The Matisse Foundation
Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation
NYC City Council
Discretionary Funding Carmen De La Rosa
NYC Department of
Cultural Affairs (DCLA)
UMEZ Hybrid Microloan
NewYork-Presbyterian
New York State Council on the Arts

Community Supporters

Buunni Coffee
Cornerstone Center
HEIGHTSIGHTS
Le Cheile NYC
A Sign of Success
Word Up Community Bookshop

Community Partners

Bank Street School For Children
SONYC
Early RAPP
Hudson Cliffs
Harbor Heights
Columbia Secondary School
The Uptown Hub / NewYork-Presbyterian
Cabrini Immigrant Services NYC
Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics
Muscota New School
I feel like if I hadn't taken Girls Rising, I wouldn't have become a better writer, and I wouldn't have met some friends who have changed my life.

Xanthe

Student

My daughter takes her writing seriously because Uptown Stories takes her seriously.

Kimberly

Parent

My daughter’s writing has improved tremendously. She loves writing now. She can sit for hours and let her imagination fly.

Annie

Parent

The quality of teaching is superb. The teachers have the chance to get to know each child, and due to the small class size, the feedback is very specific. Also, witnessing the other children critique the writing is remarkable - the children are kind and respectful, but very honest.

Lori

Parent

I've met a fantastic group of people and become a much better writer. Kate and the rest of the staff are hardworking and fun to work with.

Joseph

Student

Uptown Stories redefined "after school enrichment" for me. The kids were learning the fundamentals of good writing, but in a way that felt like a fun romp, rather than a two-hour slog through rules and thesis statements.

HK

Parent

Uptown Stories has helped my writing in the sense that it allowed me to realize that this is my passion and that I want to pursue it as a career. It opened my eyes to the possibilities that creative writing has to offer. I think that anyone can get something out of attending Uptown Stories.

Graydon

Alumnus

Writing used to be something that was just work; something we have to do at school. However, now it's a way for me to express different things, and it's much more enjoyable now that there is a place where everyone has the same passion for writing that I do.

Anna

Student

Ready to Join a Workshop?

High School Admissions Essay Workshop

DOES YOUR 8TH GRADER NEED HELP WITH THEIR ISAAGNY AND SCREENED PUBLIC SCHOOLS ESSAY?

Uptown Stories is offering a community small-group essay writing workshop. During this session, students will make as much progress in their writing process as they can, choosing their topic, brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing their personal essays.

There will be a maximum of 18 students and tuition is just $25. We look forward to working with your children on this important piece of writing!

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Tonight's Special Guest is...

Get ready for a semester full of surprises! Every week you’ll meet a new adult fiction writer from our very own community. They’ll be in the classroom discussing their process, what it’s like making a living as a writer, and giving us writing exercises, tips, and tricks to learn from. Come join us for these unique lessons and conversations!

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Game of Poetry

In this workshop, students will see that approaching writing playfully has very serious results. Using ideas and techniques we encounter reading master poets such as Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, May Swenson, and Wislawa Szymborska, our writing will be inspired by language games, traditional forms, and imitation-of and response-to master poems.

We welcome everyone to join in the fun, from the reluctant writer to the experienced poet - you will find joy, magic, and mystery playing with words

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