School 28 has participated in TAPP programming since its inception in 1989. Each student submits poetry to the annual contest and many attend the excellent theater programs. In 2019, our school was chosen to be a National Blue Ribbon School, a  program that recognizes  schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps. We believe the Theater and Poetry Project has significantly contributed to this prestigious recognition.

Over the years, the Theater and Poetry Project has enriched the lives of Paterson students, many of whom because of limited school budgets and constrained financial situations, have lacked access to the arts. But there are so many students in Paterson—some very gifted, some with just a thirst for the arts—who have flourished under what TAPP has brought to their lives in terms of creativity in both writing and theater.  For Paterson students, TAPP has opened doors—ones that might never have been opened except for this outstanding and innovative programming. 

Storytelling can be a form of community organizing. These stories and poems are testimonies to real lived life. Students flourish in asserting the power of their narrative, carefully crafting the beloved details of their perspective. There is great love and joy in opportunities like these. Learning moments like these raise the standard of our living. Young artists become tremendous ambassadors and advocates for their Silk City through their work. The Theater and Poetry Project is a servant leader by providing this space and tending to these relationships. The Center tends a garden in which we all grow.