Frank Lopez has woven the knowledge of his BFA earned at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and his years of film experience with poetry to teach youth throughout New York City, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ireland, and Singapore as a facilitator for his alma mater’s Tisch Special Programs. Frank was director of photography & editor on the pilot episode of the docu-reality series, M1’s The Message, featured on VICE Creators, as Mutulu Olugbala (M1) interviews contemporary artist Joey Bada$$ to offer a message to future generations that transcends the musical genre of Hip Hop. In 2006 and 2009, Frank was nominated for the prestigious NYU Oliver Stone Screenwriting Award for overachievement in the field of storytelling.
We are a collective of artists that celebrate, examine and advocate for life through music and poetry. Our art can take you on a journey from the Boogie Down to Berlin, from the border to the bodega.
Our style emphasizes lyricism, rhythm and authenticity. We hail from the Bronx and have been rocking the mic since 2005.
- “The Peace Poets were vital to the success and the impact of our program. You were able to connect with the audience and communicate a message that, for some, may have gotten lost with other speakers.”
- “The Peace Poets are incredible force. They united my Creative Writing classroom, pulling real stories of pain, heartbreak, and liberation from my students (and this was only our first week of class).”
- “..this group of young men, leaders, artists, visionaries-take the political personally-then digest it, wrestle it, grip it, squeeze it, and most importantly address it with passion, grace, and integrity- then they speak on it with flavor!” – -Michael Cirelli, Executive Director, Urban Word NYC
- “These poems remind me of the link between philosophy and poetry in the sense that they inevitably gravitate towards big questions, towards making meaning out of the human experience… I am struck as I believe you will be, by the level of empathy and compassion found in these words.”- -Sekou Sundiata
- “The Peace Poets know how to develop a safe space so students can express themselves and listen to others with respect and tolerance. You empower students with self-esteem and energy to serve their communities. You motivate them to write and enjoy the process. The fact that students return week after week to the class is an indication of how much they enjoy the workshop.”- -Blanca Izaguirre, Consejera, Newcomers High School