The day we have been waiting for arrived on February 24th. That is the day that the Knicks Poetry Slam finalists competed for the three top places and prizes. Three winners were picked from the group of amazingly talented teens who have been competing since November for over $450,000 in grants and prizes.
Among the sponsors of the contest, which was launched in 2003 and designed to encourage New York’s youth to express themselves through poetry for the chance to win cash for college, were Urban Work NYC; the Knicks basketball team; and the Hymowitz Children’s Educational Foundation founded by Gregg Hymowitz.
The final slam took place at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York, and the three winners were Tonya (first place), Mokgethi (second place) and Ishmael (third place).
Watch the following video of the moving performance of the winner, Tonya, for an example of the great talent and expression of these young people.