Introducing the Poetic License Project — and the Young People Powering It Behind the Scenes
March 27, 2026
Something new is unfolding in Paterson — and it’s giving voice to the city in a way that feels rooted in place and alive with possibility.
The Poetic License Project, a year-long poetry initiative funded through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)’s Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Phase II program, will bring nationally recognized poets to Paterson for performances, workshops, and public programming. Designed to activate key community spaces, increase foot traffic, and celebrate the city’s rich creative identity, the project represents a meaningful investment in Paterson’s cultural future.
For NJCDC, it was a natural fit.
“This project reflects something we’ve always believed,” said NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci. “When you invest in arts and culture in a community like Paterson — and make those experiences accessible to the people who live here — you’re responding directly to what residents have told us they want and deserve. And when young people are given the chance to step into real roles within that work, they grow — not just in skill, but in confidence and in how they see their place in the world around them.”
Through this partnership — alongside Word Seed Inc., Prototype 237, the Paterson Museum, and CavanKerry Press — NJCDC is helping ensure that the project is not only something the community experiences, but something its young people help bring to life. It’s an approach that reflects NJCDC’s broader mission — pairing investment in place with investment in people, and recognizing arts and culture as essential to building vibrant, connected neighborhoods.
Learning by Doing — In Real Time
At the center of NJCDC’s involvement is the Youth Live Arts Events Apprenticeship program — a hands-on opportunity for four Paterson high school students to work behind the scenes of a citywide arts initiative.
All four apprentices are 10th and 11th grade students and proud residents of Paterson — bringing a lived connection to the very community these events are designed to engage.
Over the course of the program, they will support event production across multiple Poetic License weekends, gaining experience in areas like audio and lighting, event coordination, marketing, and promotion. Two apprentices will focus on the technical side of live production, while two will work on the marketing and audience engagement side — each developing practical skills while contributing to real events happening in their own community.
The apprentices were formally introduced to the community during last Saturday’s Poetic License Welcome Event at the Paterson Museum, marking the start of their involvement in the project.
The group will begin with orientation next week, followed by hands-on training through Prototype 237’s live events throughout April — building the foundation they’ll carry into the first official Poetic License weekend on May 2–3.
It’s immersive, fast-paced, and intentionally real.
And for the four students stepping into these roles, it’s also the beginning of something that extends beyond the program itself — a chance to see themselves as part of the creative and cultural life of their city.
Meet the Apprentices
Each of NJCDC’s four apprentices — Angie, Mia, Arina, and Mohammed — comes into this experience with a different story, a different set of interests, and a different sense of what draws them to this work. What they share is a willingness to step forward and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Mia Jones, a junior at Passaic County Technical Institute’s STEM Academy, has been immersed in the performing arts since her freshman year through the school’s theater program. What draws her in is the emotional depth behind poetry, music, and live performance — the kind of work that requires heart, commitment, and a genuine desire to express something meaningful. While she’s spent years on stage, this opportunity offers something new: a chance to step behind the scenes and understand how those moments are built. For Mia, it’s about broadening her understanding of how live events come together.
Angie Aburto, also a junior at PCTI and a fellow participant in the school’s theater program, brings a different kind of energy — one rooted in movement, curiosity, and a desire to stay engaged. Whether through theater, Junior ROTC, or learning something entirely new, Angie is someone who looks for opportunities to grow. She shared that while she loves writing songs and poems and being on stage, she’s equally drawn to the energy and unpredictability behind the scenes. What excites her most is the chance to work as part of a team to create something meaningful — something larger than any one person could do alone.
On the technical side, Arina Choudhury, a sophomore at PCTI, is already familiar with the rhythm of backstage work. Now in her second year supporting her school’s annual spring musical, she described the experience as “adding a sprinkle of magic to the stage” — a quiet but essential role in bringing a performance to life. Through this apprenticeship, she’s eager to build on that foundation by learning the ropes of lighting and live sound, while also making new connections with fellow artists, performers, and community members along the way.
Mohammed Mufassiruzzaman, also a PCTI sophomore, brings a growing connection to community-centered work. Through his involvement in NJCDC’s Paterson Youth Council and a Youth Corps internship with the National Park Service at the Great Falls, he’s already had opportunities to engage with the public and help shape shared experiences. What excites him about this program is the chance to “bring a whole community into the same space to feel something at the same time,” and to be part of a project that uplifts artistic voices while helping to keep Paterson’s creative spirit alive and growing.
Together, they represent a cross-section of Paterson’s next generation — young people who are not only exploring their interests, but beginning to see how those interests can connect to something larger within their community.
Creating Opportunity
While the Poetic License Project will bring powerful performances and new energy to Paterson’s arts scene, its impact extends beyond any single event.
For NJCDC, this work is about creating pathways — giving young people real opportunities to engage with the arts as contributors, collaborators, and leaders in the making. It’s also about recognizing that arts and culture are essential to building healthy, vibrant communities where residents feel connected, inspired, and proud of where they live.
As the apprentices begin their training and prepare for the first Poetic License weekend in early May, they are stepping into a hands-on experience that will challenge them, support them, and expand what they see as possible for themselves.
Because in Paterson, the most meaningful work doesn’t just happen on stage. It happens behind the scenes, too.