Our Story
Founded in July 2018 by Nicole Shawan Junior, Roots. Wounds. Words. emerged from a desire to dismantle the barriers that hinder BIPOC storytellers from accessing quality literary arts education. Nicole, a former NYC public school teacher and prosecutor, transformed her personal journey into a mission to uplift marginalized voices. What began as a small workshop in Brooklyn has blossomed into a national movement, supporting over 800 BIPOC storytellers across the country.