Calling all young Oakland poets!
The Oakland Public Library and an alliance of community partners welcome Oakland poets between the ages of 13-18 to enter into the 2022 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate community. The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program projects the diverse voices and truths of Oakland youth into the city and beyond.
The Application Deadline is February 7, 2022
- Every eligible applicant will be invited to enter into a community of young poets and youth advocates.
- Finalists will receive opportunities to perform before various Oakland audiences.
- Oakland’s eleventh Laureate will serve as city ambassador for literacy, arts and youth expression and receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Interested youth, parents, teachers, and youth advocates can learn more and apply online at oaklandlibrary.org/oyplapply. For more information call the Oakland Public Library at 510.761.7636 or email us at oypl@oaklandlibrary.org.
We will be hosting two application information sessions on Thursday, January 20th open to anyone who would like to know more about the application process or would like support in encouraging teen poets in applying. Details at oaklandlibrary.org/oyplinfosession.
Oakland’s 2021 Youth Poet Laureate, 16-year-old Myra Estrada, a junior at Oakland High School states, “This program is a gate to free expression. Once you come here, you know your purpose and that you matter. - Myra Estrada, 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate.”
Estrada and other Laureates and Finalists from previous years will be performing live at the César E. Chávez Branch on January 5th at 5:30pm. Come out and meet them!
The Youth Poet Laureate program is supported by a broad coalition of partner agencies across the Bay Area: Chapter 510, Youth Speaks, Write-to-Read, and the Alameda County Library. The Friends of the Oakland Public Library finances the Laureate’s scholarship which is then administered through Scholarship America.
