If you’ve lived in Orlando more than a few years, the words “Urban Think” may bring back memories of the bookstore that was once located on Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando. The bookstore was an important local business, community center and part of the city's literary scene, frequently hosting readings and other cultural events. Sadly, it closed its doors for good in 2009.
In 2008, before the bookstore’s demise, the Urban Think Foundation was created.
The foundation’s mission is to “enrich Orlando’s cultural landscape by funding and growing educational, creative and culture building programs in Orlando.”
In early 2011, the foundation opened Urban ReThink, a co-working space for graphic designers, writers and other professionals that also hosted an eclectic selection of readings, musical performances, urban development powwows and other events. Urban ReThink opened in the bookstore’s former home, quickly becoming a popular hangout for creatives with its “mission to spur intellectual, economic and community vitality through empowering independent-minded, community-spirited doers.”
Although Urban Rethink has since closed and separated from the Urban Think Foundation, the foundation continues to have a considerable impact on the educational and cultural climate of Orlando through two primary programs: Page 15, which promotes children's literacy, and Burrow Press, a local publisher of fiction and creative nonfiction.
Page 15 is all about getting kids more interested in reading, writing and education.
To these ends, it offers a number of programs, like after-school tutoring, Young Writers Camp, Slam Camp and a yearly fiction writing contest for Orlando high school students. After-school tutoring is free, and the organization's creative writing programs and other projects are dedicated to encouraging creativity, enhancing communication skills and inspiring Orlando's youth to develop a passion for language arts.
Burrow Press publishes fiction and creative nonfiction, mostly by local authors. It also puts out the literary journal Burrow Press Review and runs Functionally Literate, a quarterly reading series. Of particular note to locals, the press publishes a 15 Views of Orlando series which compiles 15 loosely connected, locally set short stories by 15 local authors. It also publishes an annual collection featuring the winners of Page 15's teen writing contest.
Ryan Rivas and Jana Waring co-founded Burrow Press, which merged with the Urban Think Foundation shortly after starting up. This happened in large part because Rivas was already Programs Director of Page 15. Learn more about the Burrow Press and Page 15 in this fun interview with Rivas.
If you'd like to support the Urban Think Foundation's efforts, make a tax-deductible donation through their website.
In 2008, before the bookstore’s demise, the Urban Think Foundation was created.
The foundation’s mission is to “enrich Orlando’s cultural landscape by funding and growing educational, creative and culture building programs in Orlando.”
In early 2011, the foundation opened Urban ReThink, a co-working space for graphic designers, writers and other professionals that also hosted an eclectic selection of readings, musical performances, urban development powwows and other events. Urban ReThink opened in the bookstore’s former home, quickly becoming a popular hangout for creatives with its “mission to spur intellectual, economic and community vitality through empowering independent-minded, community-spirited doers.”
Although Urban Rethink has since closed and separated from the Urban Think Foundation, the foundation continues to have a considerable impact on the educational and cultural climate of Orlando through two primary programs: Page 15, which promotes children's literacy, and Burrow Press, a local publisher of fiction and creative nonfiction.
Page 15 is all about getting kids more interested in reading, writing and education.
To these ends, it offers a number of programs, like after-school tutoring, Young Writers Camp, Slam Camp and a yearly fiction writing contest for Orlando high school students. After-school tutoring is free, and the organization's creative writing programs and other projects are dedicated to encouraging creativity, enhancing communication skills and inspiring Orlando's youth to develop a passion for language arts.
Burrow Press publishes fiction and creative nonfiction, mostly by local authors. It also puts out the literary journal Burrow Press Review and runs Functionally Literate, a quarterly reading series. Of particular note to locals, the press publishes a 15 Views of Orlando series which compiles 15 loosely connected, locally set short stories by 15 local authors. It also publishes an annual collection featuring the winners of Page 15's teen writing contest.
Ryan Rivas and Jana Waring co-founded Burrow Press, which merged with the Urban Think Foundation shortly after starting up. This happened in large part because Rivas was already Programs Director of Page 15. Learn more about the Burrow Press and Page 15 in this fun interview with Rivas.
If you'd like to support the Urban Think Foundation's efforts, make a tax-deductible donation through their website.
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