Looking for some inspiration?Â
These performances by Oakland Youth Poet Laureate poets should do the trick!
Since 2012, the Oakland Youth Poet Laureate (OYPL) program has helped young Oakland poets share their truths. We are so grateful for their voices.
This community of amazing teens have shared their talents with Oaklanders of all ages, and with people from far beyond Oakland.
Please celebrate their words, their truths, their stories, and all that they've accomplished.
OYPL Finalists Poem Performances
OYPL Finalists Interviewed by OYPL Poets
Geronimo Valenzuela in conversation with Steph Yun
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Geronimo Valenzuela who is in conversation with 2012 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Steph Yun.
Rina Huang in conversation with Eleanor Wikstrom
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Rina Huang who is in conversation with 2020 Vice Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Eleanor Wikstrom.
Nadia Elbgal in conversation with Greer Nakadegawa-Lee
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Nadia Elbgal who is in conversation with 2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Greer Nakadegawa-Lee.
Vincent Ng in conversation with Chiana Griswa
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Vincent Ng who is in conversation with 2020 OYPL Finalist Chiana Griswa.
Geronimo Valenzuela in conversation with Steph Yun
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Geronimo Valenzuela who is in conversation with 2012 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Steph Yun.
Rina Huang in conversation with Eleanor Wikstrom
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Rina Huang who is in conversation with 2020 Vice Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Eleanor Wikstrom.
Nadia Elbgal in conversation with Greer Nakadegawa-Lee
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Nadia Elbgal who is in conversation with 2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Greer Nakadegawa-Lee.
Vincent Ng in conversation with Chiana Griswa
Meet 2022 OYPL Finalist Vincent Ng who is in conversation with 2020 OYPL Finalist Chiana Griswa.
Oakland Youth Poet Laureate poets have opportunities to perform, speak, host poetry workshops, plan projects, and share their truths in so many ways. Here's some of what they've done.
OYPL Public Performances, Interviews, Projects, and More
Poetry Pen Pals
Share a poem. Read a poem. Connect. A project from Ella Gordon, Oakland's 2024 Youth Poet Laureate.
Ella Gordon featured on Inside OUSD
Inside OUSD with 2024 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Ella Gordon. Interview and performance.
Nairobi Barnes, C2C Policy Conference, March 2024
Nairobi Barnes, 2023 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, performs at the C2C Impact Engine's Policy Conference in March, 2024.
Ella Gordon, Special Oakland City Council Meeting, May 2024
Ella Gordon, 2023 and 2024 OYPL Finalist performs at an Oakland City Council Meeting, May 2024.
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, Virtual Beast Crawl Kickoff, 2021
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, 2020 OYPL performs at Beast Crawl 2021's Virtual Day One Gala Kickoff Fundraiser.
Kaylan Black, Beast Crawl Kickoff Gala, September 2021
Kaylan Black, Vice OYPL (2021 and 2022) performs at Beast Crawl 2021's Virtual Day One Gala Kickoff Fundraiser.
Nadia Elbgal, Arts Research Center, April 2023
Nadia Elbgal, 2022 OYPL, performs at the Arts Research Center (UC Berkeley).
Nadia Elbgal, City of Oakland Love Life Week
Nadia Elbgal, 2022 OYPL, performs at the City of Oakland's culminating festival for Love Life Week.
Myra Estrada, 2021 OYPL, EBALDC Performance
Myra Estrada, 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, performs for EBALDC event in September 2021.
Interview: 2023 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Nairobi Barnes
2023 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Nairobi Barnes, talks about her craft, role models, and more in this interview with Shanga Goman.
Poets respond to Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence
Visual poem written and directed by three Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program poets reacting to 2023 DeYoung Museum Exhibit.
OYPL Poets and the de Young Museum
OYPL poets, wth the de Young Museum, created resources for youth to explore how artist Kehinde Wiley’s message connects to their lives.
Samuel Getachew, 2020 Peninsula Virtual Bookfest
2019 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Samuel Getachew performs at the 2020 Peninsula Virtual Bookfest.
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, Power to the Poets
2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, performs in the San Mateo County Poet Laureate's Series, Power to the Poets, 2020.
Azariah Cole-Shephard, Commonwealth Club, 2016
2016 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Azariah Cole-Shephard, performs at the Commonwealth Club of California.
Myra Estrada, Oakland Promise Community Briefing
2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Myra Estrada, performs as part of the 2021 Oakland Promise Community Briefing.
