Because Youth Have Something to Say to Us and This World!
On April 29th, 2022 on Zoom, the Santa Clara City Library will host a virtual showcase of all the Finalists vying to be this year's 2022 Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate!
Since its inauguration in 2021, the program has provided space and proof that poetry, spoken word, and other literary mediums continue to be popular vehicles for the outspoken ideas and experiences of our young adults in the Bay Area.
This year's cohort will have a chance to share their work with our community and inspire a new movement of poets and writers from all walks and generations.
Last month, talented local writers—ages 13 to 18—applied to become the next Santa Clara County youth poet laureate. This week, judges announced seven finalists for the honorary post: Samantha Hsiung, Minerva S.M. Kamra, Sarah Fathima Mohammed, Jacqueline Pham, Myesha Phukan, Michelle Qiao and Anna Yang.
The application to become the 2nd Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate is available now! Tell all of the young people in your community who are interested in elevating and uplifting youth voice in Santa Clara County!
The application to become the 2nd Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate is available now! Tell all of the young people in your community who are interested in elevating and uplifting youth voice in Santa Clara County!
Anouk Yeh
Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate, 2021-2022
Mahder Aklilu
Santa Clara County Vice Youth Poet Laureate, 2021-2022
Congratulations to our 10 Finalists!
"Santa Clara County Announces Finalists for Youth Poet Laureate" by Samuel Getachew in KQED Arts | April 2021
"...the ten finalists for Santa Clara County’s youth poet laureate were announced: Sarah Fathima Mohammed, Swasti Johri, Margaret Mei, Avalon Felice Lee, Trisha Iyer, Anouk Yeh, Mahder Aklilu, Anna Yang, Paula Escobar, and Jasmine Kapadia. Selected by a panel of seven judges, applicants were scored on the craft of their writing, the authenticity of their voice, their performance and their potential for leadership.
"When I began to listen to poetry, it's when I began to listen to the stones,
and I began to listen to what the clouds had to say, and I began to listen to others. And I think, most importantly for all of us, then you begin to learn to listen to the soul, the soul of yourself in here, which is also the soul of everyone else."
- Joy Harjo, United States Poet Laureate
Photo is from the @poetlaureatescc Instagram page
ABOUT
Santa Clara County is proud to announce the launch of our Youth Poet Laureate Program!
The Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate Program is meant to inspire, to teach, and to be enjoyed by audiences across the county, and perhaps, the country and world.
As a partner with the National Youth Poet Laureate Program, we hope youth poets use their voices for change.
In 2021, Santa Clara County will select its first ever Youth Poet Laureate.
MISSION STATEMENT
To serve as youth ambassadors for civic engagement, literary excellence, and social justice through literacy, arts, and youth expression with ongoing opportunities for performances and community collaborations
