Voices Unbroken Inc

“When the organization receives the 990 form from the accountant, it is first reviewed by management and then each board member is sent a draft of the 990 for review, questions and comments. Once management receives every board member's questions and comments, these are passed on to the accountant and form 990 is revised accordingly. Once the revisions are completed and approved, the 990 is then filed with the irs by management after it has been duly signed by the appropriate organization's official. A copy of the revised 990 form is sent to each board member for their records.”

“Each board member is required to read and sign the conflict of interest policy upon joining the board and annually. The conflict of interest policy is reviewed by the board annually.”

“The salary of the executive director is included in the annual budget, which is submitted to the board annually for review and approval.”

“Voices unbroken makes its form 1023 and form 990 available to the public upon request.”

“Voices unbroken makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available to the general public upon request.”

“Voices unbroken is a bronx-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing under-heard members of the community - primarily youth, ages 12-24 - with the tools and opportunity for creative self-expression. Through high quality creative writing workshops in juvenile justice facilities, group homes, residential treatment facilities, jails and various other transitional and alternative settings, voices unbroken nurtures the inherent need in all people to tell their stories and be heard. It is our belief that this telling of stories and sharing of dreams leads to individual and community growth.”

“In 2013, voices unbroken facilitated 33 workshops totaling 242 individual sessons in its voices beyond bars program (a program that offers workshops to youth in the juvenile and adult justice systems). The workshops gave these young people who are incarcerated or detained new tools for coping with stress, moving past trauma and learning to take responsibility for their actions and emotions. In its speaking our voices program (a program that brings creative writing workshops into a variety of community and alternative settings such as foster care or restrictive residential facilities), voices unbroken provided 6 workshops totaling 41 individual sessions in 2013. These workshops helped participants learn how to write from the heart, speak for themselves and share their stories. Approximately 135 young people participated in the speaking our voices workshops in 2013. As part of its voices network program, voices unbroken hosted a free "write your way" training conference for youth development professionals who are interested in using the arts to engage hard-to-reach youth. The training provided the participants the opportunity to try out and take home some of the activities featured in voices unbroken's write your way curriculum. Approximately 45 people attended the conference. In addition, voices unbroken offered training to participants in teaching artist training program that focused on facilitating arts workshops in non-school settings. Approximately 55 people attended this training session. In 2013, the members of voices in action (a leadership program specifically for girls and young women who have participated in voices unbroken workshops and are interested in using their voices to advocate for themselves, and their communities) completed thier first project "through their eyes the gates will open", a book that uses memoirs and poetry to tell the founding members' stories, provide resource information and share policy recommendations. Voices unbroken is committed to using its various programs to help participants develop self-expression skills through creative writing and discussion exercises, which enable them to constructively communicate in situations where they previously would not have had the confidence to speak up. Additionally, these programs help participants to learn that their writings and voices have the power to change people's perceptions about them.”