LONG BEACH
YOUTH POET
LAUREATE
CHAMPIONED BY
COUNCIL URBAN
LONGBEACH
PUBLIC LIBRARY WORD
FOR LONG BEACH
WHAT IS Collaboration between the Long Beach Public Library, Arts Council for Long Beach, and Urban Word.
THE YOUTH POET
Established in 2008 by Urban Word, the Youth Poet
LAUREATE PROGRAM? Laureate Program aims to identify and nurture the voices of youth poets (ages 13-18) through workshops,
performances, publication opportunities, community
initiatives, and mentor support.
The program's objectives are:
1. to teach poetry as a social practice, that is, a tool for activism
2. to provide youth poets with the experience and
resources needed to build a life out of their work
Inaugural Year (2023-2024)
WORKSHOPS PERFORMANCE PUBLICATION COMMUNITY
• Held in branches Past performance In addition to publishing YPL Cohort poets will throughout the city. opportunities have and disseminating an lead workshops on topics • Artist-led. included Vida Latina, FAB anthology of work by the of their choice and for • Topics have included Festival, the YPL YPL Cohort, youth-poets their peers.
Government Ceremony, and will will create a chapbook
Responsibility & the include readings at local manuscript that will be Poet, Painting Poetry, coffeeshops, bookstores, shared with local and Protest Poetry. libraries, and schools. presses.
PORTFOLIO
SELECTION
PROCESS Portfolio of five poems judged on their creativity, content, and structure.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Curriculum vitae that demonstrates sustained contributions to Long Beach's literary community and social well-being.
PERFORMANCE
The ability to bring poetry to the public and, thus, to life.
MEET THE INAUGURAL
Youth Poet Laureate Cohort (2023-2024)
WILLIAME
CLAIRE HELENA MATILDA KIERAN SOFIA
BEELI DONATO-SAPP IEM LUNDY URIBE
Youth Poet Laureate Poet Ambassador Poet Ambassador Poet Ambassador Poet Ambassador