National Youth Poet Laureate program
Celebrating Youth at Intersection of Artistic Excellence & Civic Engagement.
FOUNDED BY
Submissions Open February 1 – 28 for STATE YOUTH POET LAUREATE applications ONLY in the following States: Vermont, Maryland, California, Kentucky, Connecticut, Hawaii, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. If you are a resident of the state, and between the ages of 13-19 (before Feb. 28, 2025) you are eligible to apply to be your State’s Youth Poet Laureate. One winner and (2) runners-up will be announced for each state and will win performance, publishing, workshop and mentorship opportunities.
2024 NATIONAL YOUTH POET LAUREATE
Stephanie Pacheco
"Whew! I grew tired reading about the work of this justice warrior. She is indeed an “artivist” with a passion for justice and creating space for those we regularly leave out and dismiss in our society. The work is bold and authentic." –Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
Stephanie Pacheco winner of the 2024 National Youth Poet Laureate (NYPL) competition––and the second NYPL winner from New York––will serve as the United States youth literary and civic ambassador.
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Our Program
The National Youth Poet Laureate program works with local youth literary arts organizations across the united states to identify and celebrate exceptional youth poets who use their voice to inspire change.
Our program model supports local literary partners in launching their local youth poet laureate program, elevating these young poet-activists, and creating opportunities and resources to expand and elevate platforms for these youth poet laureates.
This program is supported by the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America, the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Parks Service, Cave Canem, and many more.
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