FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Tarshel Beards, tbeards@oaklandlibrary.org
Oakland, CA – June 7, 2025
Cael Dueñas-Lara, 14 years old, has been named the 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate after competing with six other Finalists, winning a $5,000 college scholarship generously funded by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library.
“Cael, who is the youngest poet to earn the title of Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, is an incredibly talented writer, a powerful performer, and a strong leader,” says Sharon McKellar, supervising librarian for teen services at the Oakland Public Library. “The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program centers the voices of Oakland teens, providing them with a platform that allows their powerful and insightful words to reach those who can learn from them, in Oakland and beyond. Each year we are excited to welcome new Finalists into our growing community of young poets.”
The award was announced by Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rowena Brown on Friday evening at the culmination of a live event during which all seven Finalists performed.
Dueñas-Lara, a rising Sophomore at San Francisco University High School, will represent the Oakland community through poetry, media, and public appearances.
In addition to being the 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Dueñas-Lara is an Oakland Youth Poet Laureate 2024 Finalist, an accomplished dancer, and a passionate advocate for social justice.
Born, raised, and currently residing in East Oakland, Dueñas-Lara, a second-generation Mexican-American, shares that writing has, “allowed me to strengthen my voice and take back preconceived ideas of myself and others who may share parts of my identity.” He strives to educate and inspire both his elders and peers through writing and to debunk the dominant narrative of black and brown young men living in Oakland which has often been set forth by societal perceptions.
On being the 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Mr. Dueñas-Lara says, "Oakland is love and I’m excited to love Oakland even more as the Youth Poet Laureate."
Performance by 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Cael Dueñas-Lara
Sehinne Yohannes, 16-years-old, was named Oakland’s 2025 Vice Youth Poet Laureate and was honored on stage alongside Dueñas-Lara and the other 2025 Finalists: Lola Christ, Serafina Mackintosh, Zara Quiter, Isabel Shen, and Delilah Young
The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program, in its fourteenth year, is run by Oakland Public Library Teen Services and is an unprecedented citywide effort to celebrate literacy through poetry and connect young writers to far-reaching opportunities. Each year, OPL accepts submissions from talented Oakland writers (ages 13-18) to be considered for the honor.
The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, the Vice Youth Poet Laureate, and all Finalists are available for performances, talks, and workshops. Submit your booking requests at oaklandlibrary.org/yplbooking.
Stay up to date on events and appearances with the Oakland Youth Poet Laureate on Instagram and Facebook (@youhpoetlaureate) or at oaklandlibrary.org/youthpoets.
Bios of and performances by all 2025 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Finalists
The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program is supported by a broad coalition of partner agencies across the Bay Area: Chapter 510, Write-to-Read, Youth Speaks, and the Alameda County Library.
For more information, please visit oaklandlibrary.org/youthpoets, or contact Sharon McKellar, supervising librarian for teen services, at 510-238-7613 or smckellar@oaklandlibrary.org.
About OPL
The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow.