Our community of young Oakland poets has been going strong since 2012.
One of the things we are most proud of is how involved our poets continue to be. They attend alumni events, MC our performances, mentor newer poets, and advise us along the way as we develop and grow the program.
Once an OYPL poet, always an OYPL poet!
OYPL Performances and More
OYPL poets are able to perform, speak, host workshops, plan projects, & share their truths in many ways. See what they've accomplished!
All Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Poets
Dara Kashayar, 2022 Finalist
Geronimo Valenzuela, 2022 Finalist
Kaylan Black, 2022 Vice Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
Nadia Elbgal, 2022 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
Vincent Ng, 2022 Finalist
Rina Huang, 2022 Finalist
Xander Timmons, 2022 Finalist
Anna Chard, 2021 Finalist
Dara Kashayar, 2021 Finalist
Kaylan Black, 2021 Vice OYPL
Maya Looney, 2021 Finalist
Nadia Elbgal, 2021 Vice OYPL
Siara Edmond, 2021 Finalist
Myra Estrada, 2021 OYPL
Chiana Griswa, 2020 Finalist
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, 2020 OYPL
Hunter Jackson, 2020 Finalist
Michelle Aragno, 2020 Vice OYPL
Jordan Tisnado, 2020 Finalist
Siara Edmond, 2020 Finalist
Darien Em, 2019 Finalist
Eleanor Wikstrom, 2019 Vice OYPL
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, 2019 Finalist
Hayden Renato (Beaulieu), 2019 Finalist
Jordan Tisnado, 2019 Finalist
Lizette Navarro, 2019 Finalist
Samuel Getachew, 2019 OYPL
Monique Jonath, 2019 Finalist
Zouhair Mussa, 2019 Finalist
Siara Edmond, 2019 Finalist
Darien Em, 2018 Finalist
Julia Hopkins, 2018 Finalist
Leila Mottley, 2018 OYPL
Miles De Rosa, 2018 Finalist
Monique Jonath, 2018 Finalist
Samuel Getachew, 2018 Vice OYPL
Bayleaf Wilson, 2017 Finalist
Emma Linnéa Hardison, 2017 Finalist
Krysia Olszewska, 2017 Finalist
Leila Mottley, 2017 Vice OYPL
Lizette Navarro, 2017 Finalist
Lucy Flattery-Vickness, 2017 OYPL
Miles De Rosa, 2017 Finalist
Azariah Cole-Shephard, 2016 OYPL
Emma Talamantes, 2016 Fianlist
Isabel Hallock, 2016 Finalist
Lucy Flattery-Vickness, 2016 Runner-Up
Nandi Maunder, 2016 Finalist
Ahab Chopra, 2015 Finalist
Azariah Cole-Shepard, 2015 Finalist
Claire Mansell, 2015 Finalist
Ericson Amaya, 2015 Finalist
Litzy Castillo, 2015 Finalist
Lucy Flattery-Vickness, 2015 Finalist
Tova Ricardo, 2015 OYPL
Aaron Godinez, 2014 Finalist
Ajali de Veaux-Griffith, 2014 Runner-Up
Emily Kim, 2014 Finalist
Guisela (Mishel) Ramos, 2014 Finalist
Imani Diltz, 2014 Finalist
Maria Cruz, 2014 Finalist
Mina Jameson, 2014 Finalist
Sophie Elkin, 2014 OYPL
Torin Rittenberg, 2014 Finalist
Cindy Huey, 2013 Finalist
Francesca Paris, 2013 Finalist
Kai Smith, 2013 Finalist
Maya Bello, 2013 Finalist
Mina Jameson, 2013 Finalist
Obasi Davis, 2013 OYPL
Olivia Hoffman, 2013 Runner-Up
Robert Paige, 2013 Finalist
Euna Bonovich, 2012 Finalist
Jose Saldona, 2012 Finalist
Kerby Lynch, 2012 Finalist
Robin Levy, 2012 Finalist
Steph Yun, 2012 OYPL
Tele'jon Quinn, 2012 Finalist
Victoria Kupu, 2012 Finalist
