Help UGBA Bring Adult-Story Books to Life

Timothy DuWhite is organizing this fundraiser.

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Support my next chapter as a Writer and Artist

Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

My name is UGBA (oog ba), and I’m reaching out during a time of both challenge and opportunity. For years, I had the privilege of serving as the Artistic Director of the New York Writers Coalition (NYWC), a position that allowed me to work with and uplift so many incredible voices in our creative community. The NYWC has been a cornerstone for writers across New York, and it’s been a profound honor to contribute to its mission.

Unfortunately, the recent defunding of NYWC has left me out of work, disrupting not only my livelihood but also the platform through which I’ve been able to share and support so many powerful stories. This sudden change has been difficult, but it’s also sparked a new chapter in my journey as a writer and artist.

I’m now embarking on a deeply personal and ambitious project: a three-part series of biomythological adult story-books with themes of family bonds, black-queer childhood (the above video is a sneak peak into this installment of the series), and the ambitions/struggles of being a young artist. These books will explore the life experiences that have long inspired my work—stories that dive into the human experience with honesty, depth, and a touch of the unexpected.

I'm calling them adult story books because I imagine them shorter and read in community like we would read stories to a circle of children. My vision is for these books to be a special night where you invite friends over—have wine, weed, and wings as you all read along with each other. It’s a project I’ve dreamed of bringing to life for years, and now, I’m ready to make it happen. I was first introduced to the term biomythography by Audre Lorde in her book Zami. Biomythography is a literary term; it is a style of composition that weaves myth, history, and biography in epic narrative.

To do this, I need your support. I’m aiming to raise $10,000 to fund the writing, editing, and self-publishing of this series. This funding will allow me to dedicate the time and resources necessary to create stories that I believe will resonate with readers in meaningful ways.

It matters to me that this series—my very first book publications—be self-published and fueled by community: because it is how I have developed all of my work. In direct solidarity with the people whose lives I wish to enrich. GoFundMe's feel like a large exchange of trust to me. That trust is the energy I want this series to be birthed in.

I’ve always been passionate about the power of storytelling and its ability to connect us, challenge us, and inspire us. Now, I’m asking for your help to bring this vision to life. Your contributions will not only support me during this critical phase of my career but will also help ensure that these stories reach the audiences they’re meant to impact.

Every bit of support counts, whether it’s a financial contribution or simply sharing this campaign with others. I’m deeply grateful for any help you can offer, and I’m excited to share this new work with you once it’s complete.

Thank you for believing in my vision and for standing by me as I take on this new challenge. Together, we can make these stories a reality.

With gratitude and hope,

UGBA

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP: BOOK "Friendly Fire"

This year I had the honor of being apart of the 2024 Nuyorican Poetry Slam team: UGBA, Brittany Barker, Sumbodies Mama, Sola Kush

NYC has not had a national poetry team for the last seven years. We took on a lot of the city's baggage and woes. We poured into NYC's drought. The process of being on this team meant more to the healing of us and the city—than it could've ever meant to the competition.

We took 7th as a team. Insert here: all the ways I could convince you we were the best. But what good does that do anyone? The team that won deserved to win (hey Houston!). & we came in seventh—the number of completion.

However, Sola Kush received two perfect scores during the individual poetry slam portion. & decided to share her win with the poet she tied with. We brought NYC back a Grand Slam Champion—you know New Yorkers gotta leave with suttin.

With that said... since the competition we have formed a group we call "Friendly Fire." Our ethos is: at any point one of us could take another one out—so we must stay sharp! We fuel by pushing each other. Daring each other. Trusting each other. Loving each other.

We are currently accepting bookings as an entire team (it's a whole package deal):