This book brings together the works of some of the most insightful, introspective and intelligent, yet often disregarded voices in New York City, its urban youth. These voices are expressed in this collection of poems, raps, short stories, quotes, etc…and are a window into the complex and often difficult experience of adolescence. These authors are high school and junior high school students that are enrolled in Grand Street Settlement’s Community Achievement Project in the Schools (CAPS). The primary goal of the CAPS program is to help students overcome barriers to attending school and to provide them with youth development and skill building opportunities. Grand Street Settlement has implemented this program in the six different schools represented in this book; School for Legal Studies, Norman Thomas High School, Louis D. Brandeis High School, Automotive High School, Junior High School 56 and Middle School 61. These young people have come together and shared a piece of their lives as they continue to persevere through various hardships, express their creativity and shine their light.

This book brings together the works of some of the most insightful, introspective and intelligent, yet often disregarded voices in New York City, its urban youth. These voices are expressed in this collection of poems, raps, short stories, quotes, etc…and are a window into the complex and often difficult experience of adolescence. These authors are high school and junior high school students that are enrolled in Grand Street Settlement’s Community Achievement Project in the Schools (CAPS). The primary goal of the CAPS program is to help students overcome barriers to attending school and to provide them with youth development and skill building opportunities. Grand Street Settlement has implemented this program in the six different schools represented in this book; School for Legal Studies, Norman Thomas High School, Louis D. Brandeis High School, Automotive High School, Junior High School 56 and Middle School 61. These young people have come together and shared a piece of their lives as they continue to persevere through various hardships, express their creativity and shine their light.