Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Performances and More

Looking for some inspiration? 

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.

Oakland Youth Poet LaureateOakland Youth Poet Laureate

The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program celebrates literacy through poetry and connects young writers to far-reaching opportunities.
The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program is an unprecedented citywide effort to celebrate literacy through poetry and connect young writers to far-reaching opportunities.

OYPL Finalists Poem Performances

OYPL Finalists Interviewed by OYPL Poets

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

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.

Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, The Song That Deserves to Be Sung

2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Greer Nakadegawa-Lee performs for Asian American National Virtual Day of Action on Barbara Lee's pages.

Rina Huang, Arts Research Center Flash Reading

Rina Huang, a 2022 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, performs as part of the Arts Research Center's Spring 2023 Flash Reading Series.

Kaylan Black, Arts Research Center Flash Reading

Kaylan Black, the 2022 Oakland Vice Youth Poet Laureate, performs as part of the Arts Research Center's Spring 2023 Flash Reading Series.

Nadia Elbgal, CITY LIGHTS LIVE! Closing Poems

Nadia Elbgal, the 2022 OYPL, delivers the closing poem for CITY LIGHTS LIVE! Humanizing Education: Closing Plenary, March 2023.
Back to Top