A place where building emotional intelligence begins and ends with Rhythm & Poetry.

T.E.M. Studio is a nonprofit in Red Bank, New Jersey, where teenagers aged 13 to 18 work. works with teens one-on-one in the studio and alongside teachers in schools. Whether a student is designing a service project or writing a record of their own, the work is the same: name the feeling, make something out of it, then have the courage to put it in front of people. Whether it is “good” or not.

What they gain from this method is emotional vocabulary, follow-through, and the ability to say a hard thing clearly. So when conflict shows up at home, at school, or eventually at work, they can name it and talk to it with grace and care.

We celebrate the glorious, uncomfortable, and necessary work of figuring out who you actually are.

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Loud · Raw · Emotional literacy · Unfinished · Messy · Stillness   · Becoming ·
Loud · Raw · Vulnerable · Unfinished · Messy · Still  Becoming · On Purpose ·
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There are four ways in. One-on-one poetry mentorship. Ceremony year projects for teens marking a bar or bat mitzvah, confirmation, or Quinceañera. Workshops and residencies inside schools. And in 2027, a membership for teens who just need somewhere to be.

Our method comes out of Hip Hop-Based Education. That does not mean using hip hop as bait to get teenagers interested in real poetry. Hip hop is the text. Scholars like Gloria Ladson-Billings, Christopher Emdin, and Bettina Love made this case decades ago, and the premise is simple: young people learn when what they already know is treated as an asset, not a gap that needs closing. So we start from what a teenager already has.

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Flagship Program ·

The Unfinished Society

Our flagship program. Premium 1:1 spoken-word poetry mentorship.The deepened, members-only descendant of our Temporarily Temperamental school unit.

We teach this method of asking teens to do the deep work of serving others because being useful to someone can change how a teenager sees themselves.

Part of coming of age is learning to trust your intuition and senses.

We teach teens how to use their gifts by taking them on the journey to discover their voice.

At T.E.M., we guide individuals to improve their cooperation within groups by teaching them to name what they are carrying inside, say it out loud through rhythm and poetry, and then turn around and do something with it for someone else. That Akan proverb sits on our seal as a reminder of the journey every soul takes as they move beyond self-reliance and towards interconnectedness. Through shared responsibility, communities grow stronger because people do their best when they work together and help one another. None of this work happens in isolation. Solitude, yes. But not isolation.

Teenagers are rarely by themselves, and plenty of them are still lonely. You can be on a team, in the group chat, in the middle of everything, and still have nowhere to put what you are actually carrying. Here they get helped, and then they turn around and help somebody else. That exchange is the part we cannot fully explain. It is also the part that works.

boa me na me mmoa wo. help me and let me help you.

You are not lost. You are somewhere on the path back to yourself.

…the world will try to

The image displays the words 'SAND THEM DOWN' in large, colorful text, with each word in a different color: green, blue, and purple.
The image displays the words 'SAND THEM DOWN' in large, colorful text, with each word in a different color: green, blue, and purple.

WE WON’T.

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WHAT GUIDES US?

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Blank white background with green outlines of a star at the top and bottom

THE A LIST

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ALTRUISM

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Colorful, pixelated letter 'L' with a green face, blue outline, and purple accents.

LEADERSHIP

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Number 1 in lime green with a black outline on a blue background

INTENTION

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Bold green and purple letter 'S' with a shadow effect

SERVICE

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TRANSFORMATION

Mannikka's passion for hip hop education is contagious, and her generous spirit and compassionate methods bring out the best in every child. She is also a brilliant spoken word artist whose performances are nuanced and thought-provoking. I cannot recommend her highly enough!

The Spoken Word program with Mannikka Rosa was the number one chart-topper curriculum event for the school year. Mannikka is a catalyst for talent, and somehow creates a safe, convivial environment for students to find their potential.

We have had the absolute privilege of working closely with Mannikka in helping our students with literacy and creativity, specifically in finding their passion and voice. Her professionalism, passion and energy are second to none.

Vibrant, joyous and dynamic are some words that come to mind when I think about Mannikka's energy and style of teaching. I needed a teacher like Mannikka, and I will always be grateful for her mentorship, concern and encouragement.

Mannikka uses her method to create a safe space for creativity, and in turn she allows her students to feel seen and heard. When she is done with her weekly private class with Mannikka, my daughter is the best version of herself.

Maya came home so incredibly invigorated and excited, which if you know anything about teenage girls is a near impossible feat, especially on a weekday. Thank you for building my girl up.

Students who would ordinarily hide their voices were willing to take chances writing and performing, which speaks volumes of the trust Mannikka was able to build in just six days.

If you are looking for a fun way to help students understand the power behind words and the importance of their voices, you've come to the right place! Students are still talking about it and wondering when we'll get another visit.

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A blank white background with a thin gray border at the top

TESTIMONIALS

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See what T.E.M. veterans have to say about their experiences in our programs! From classroom teachers and school administrators to the students who found their voice on stage, everyone who works with T.E.M. walks away with a story worth telling. Here's what they had to say.

Join Our Family

Interested in becoming a part of our community? Please join our mailing list and stay up to date on events, program offerings, and all the latest happenings at our studio!

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Ready to give your teen access to the fulfillment they need? Lets talk about how to get them started.

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Blank white rectangular sheet of paper on a textured black background.

info@temstudio.org - Red Bank, NJ