In an era when injustice continues to cast its long shadow, Truth Be Told offers a sanctuary for high school and HBCU students to write themselves into existence—transforming their lived experiences into profound expressions of power, resistance, and truth. This after school writing residency is more than a creative exercise; it is a call to action, an invitation to shape narratives that have too often been silenced or erased. Truth Be Told is a three to four week after school program that creates space for students to explore the delicate interplay of identity, history, and personal story, to confront the complexities of identity and belonging through the written word. The story lab will also provide students a performance opportunity at Harlem Stage, where students will share their work with an audience of peers, educators, families, and the community—a collective moment of reflection, celebration, and solidarity.
