Welcome to the ruth weiss foundation.
What do we do?
The ruth weiss Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the work of the Beat Generation, publish all of ruth weiss’ work (plays, books, poems, haiku) and support emerging poets around the world.
This year we need our partners' support more than ever. Our mission cannot live on without you. Therefore, we kindly invite all the poetry and art lovers to donate to our cause.
Unveiling the 2024 Haiku Poetry Contest: A Tribute to Tradition and Innovation
The ruth weiss Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of the 2024 Poetry Contest, inviting poets and dreamers to immerse themselves in the delicate art of haiku.
This year, we celebrate haiku poetry’s profound simplicity and deep expressiveness, encouraging submissions that resonate with both its traditional roots and modern interpretations.
Prepare to be immersed in the timeless art of haiku as the ruth weiss Foundation proudly unveils the 2024 Haiku Poetry Contest. Poets and dreamers, brace yourselves for a journey into the delicate yet profound haiku world, where tradition dances with innovation, and every syllable holds the power of a universe.
Join Us in the Celebration of Poetry.
The ruth weiss Foundation invites poets from all walks of life to participate in our 2024 Haiku Poetry Contest. Whether you find solace in the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure or seek to explore the boundless possibilities of nontraditional forms, your voice is welcome here. We encourage you to embrace the full spectrum of haiku, from its rich history to its evolving future, and to create unique expressions of this timeless art form.
Let us honor the legacy of poet friendship like ruth weiss had for Jack Kerouac by embracing the full spectrum of haiku, from its storied past to its vibrant future. You can write haiku back and forth to your friends for inspiration.
Whether you’re an experienced poet, emerging, or a youth poet just starting out, we encourage you to embrace these elements and use them to create something truly distinct. Submit your haiku and join us in a journey of poetic exploration, celebrating the enduring beauty and transformative power of poetry. Let’s once again make this year’s contest a testament to creativity, innovation, and the unbreakable spirit of poetic expression.
The Beat Generation was a group of Americans writers in the 1950s and 60’s who opposed the mainstream American values of materialism,
and the conformity of their time. They believed in exploring the human condition and spirit at its core, promoting inclusivity, equality, and compassion. The influence of the Beat Generation on post-World War II America was also vast, and we are committed to preserving their work, ensuring that their message continues to be heard across generations.
In 2020, we celebrated ruth weiss receiving the Maverick Spirit Award from the Cinequest Film Festival. Each year, this prestigious festival recognizes outstanding achievements in the arts, and ruth weiss was acknowledged as a female Beat Generation poet who innovatively combined her readings with jazz musicians, leaving an indelible mark on the artistic landscape.
Beyond preserving ruth’s legacy and works, we are equally devoted to nurturing the new mavericks, and emerging poets. Poet ruth weiss envisioned a world where artists of the written word from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to publish their work and contribute to the captivating art of poetry.
The ruth weiss Foundation is steadfastly dedicated to realizing this vision. Over the years, our founders and esteemed committee members recognized the importance of involving young voices in the conversation. Our board, volunteers, staff, and associates actively engage with summer camps, K-12 schools and colleges, providing a platform for budding poets to participate in our grant process.
Since our foundation's inception, we have proudly disbursed $20,000 to support the most original poets and local arts organizations in achieving their aspirations. As we continue our mission, we know that many poems, manuscripts, haikus, plays and essays, and profound poems authored by ruth weiss remain unpublished. Our ultimate goal is to bring to the public each and every one of her works.
To collectively raise $88,800 in 2024, we need your collaborative efforts. Join us in making a meaningful contribution to this cause and help us fulfil our mission.
Who is ruth weiss?
Renowned internationally as a poet, artist, actress, and filmmaker, ruth weiss graced the world with her presence when she was born in Berlin, Germany, on June 24, 1928. Her formative years were marked by a deep connection with nature, a passion for literature, and an innate talent for writing. The year 1938 witnessed a pivotal moment in her life when, along with her news editor father and mother, ruth fled the oppressive clutches of Nazi Germany, seeking refuge in the United States.
In search of stability, the family embarked on a journey that took them from New York to Iowa before eventually finding their settled abode in Chicago, Illinois. It was during this period that ruth penned a heartfelt poem, expressing her profound gratitude for the nation that had saved her family from persecution. In a touching exchange, President Roosevelt acknowledged her sentiments with a heartfelt response.
Even at a tender age, the already lyrical and rebellious wordsmith made a symbolic statement by altering the spelling of her name from Ruth Weiss to the lowercase ruth weiss. This transformation served as a poignant protest against the law-and-order ethos that had prevailed in her native Germany, where nouns are conventionally capitalized.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility
If your company is interested in supporting our cause, we offer a range of collaborative opportunities tailored to your needs. We're open to exploring diverse partnerships that bring mutual benefits. Here are some examples:
Online Visibility: Benefit from extensive online promotion through our website and active social media channels, reaching a wide and engaged audience.
Tax Advantages: Additionally, your contributions may be eligible for tax deductions, offering financial incentives for your company's philanthropic involvement. We welcome your interest in collaboration. To get started, simply reach out to us at andrada@ruthweissfoundation.org. We look forward to exploring how we can work together to make a meaningful impact.
2023 AWARDS WINNERS AND FINALISTS
Youth Poet Award WINNER: “you can’t be alive and still write poetry” by Ariel Zhang
Ariel Zhang is a student from California who believes that words are a form of bearing witness to the world and each other.
Emerging Poet Award WINNER: “The Future I Feed My Brother” by Asma Al-Masyabi
Asma Al-Masyabi is a poet from Colorado who often uses poetry as a way to process the world.
Maverick Poet Award WINNER: “One Night, Long ago, My Mother Took Me Into the Woods to Lose Me” by MK Chavez
MK Chavez is an Afro-Latinx writer, educator, and multi-disciplinary artist.
Founders Award WINNER: “the insssomniac hive mind” by Emi Yamashiro-Hergert
Emi Yamashiro-Hergert is a writer currently attending high school in Santa Monica. She has been reading and writing as long as she can remember and discovered her love of poetry over the pandemic as a way to express the emotions beginning to overflow from her mind.
Maverick Poet Award Finalist: “On Speech” by J. Everett Wilson
J. Everett Wilson is a Tennessean poet, whose writing centers mostly on mental health and advocacy. They care deeply about giving a voice to those who have been silenced.
Maverick Poet Award Finalist: “A Rock at the Crossroads” by Arami Walker
Arami Walker is a musician, author, and activist focused on empowering women and people of color.
Maverick Poet Award Finalist: ....AND THE CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.... by UMI
I consider myself a wordsmith, cosmic scribe, performance artist, and sound shape shifter.
Youth Poet Award Finalist: “Acrylic Snippets of A Future” by Megumi Jindo
Megumi Jindo is a NYC high school senior and a spoken word poet and activist.
Maverick Poet Award Finalist: “On The Morning Before” by Kimberly Jae
Kimberly Jae (she/her) is an award-winning, Pushcart nominated, and published Crip Poet ranked among the top 30 slam poets in the world by PSI in 2018.
Emerging Poet Award Finalist: “Game” by Amanda Dutkiewicz
Amanda Dutkiewicz is a writer and museum worker in the South Jersey/Philly area. Her fiction dictates the shifting creases of the mind, the body, and the present spirituality of water as a source of self-creation and self-expression, particularly where contradictions form as horror--but also joy.
Emerging Poet Award Finalist: “Fleeced” by Kristal Phillips
Kristal Phillips is a poet from Hertfordshire, England. She got her MA in Writing from the University of Warwick as part of the Warwick Writing Programme.
Maverick Poet Award Finalist: “What’s Good” by Jen Schneider
Jen Schneider is a community college educator who lives, works, and writes in small spaces in and around Philadelphia. She writes poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, with an emphasis on hybrid forms.
Youth Poet Award Finalist: “Breath” by Ava Chen
Ava Chen is a poet and high school senior based in Massachusetts.
Youth Poet Finalist: “Untitled” by Selene Jiang-Qin
Selene Jiang-Qin explores and grows, she returns to creating art to celebrate her inner child.
Emerging Poet Award Finalist:“Untitled” by Claudia Angelillo
Claudia Angelillo is a life-long artist, poet, and writer in the New York City area. Her work promotes neurodiversity, ancestry, and viti/viniculture. She is honored to be acknowledged by The ruth weiss Foundation for her work.
Emerging Poet Award Finalist:“Why Soup” by E.M. Collins
E.M. Collins has been writing poetry for nearly three decades.