![oypl](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/42413202722_ef15b15178_o-scaled.jpg)
![OYPL](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2023/03/52619475116_4088544741_6k-scaled.jpg)
Each year, beginning in 2012, a young Oaklander has been honored with the title Oakland Youth Poet Laureate.
The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program is an unprecedented citywide effort to celebrate literacy through poetry and connect young writers to far-reaching opportunities.
We are so proud of all Youth Poets and their accomplishments!
![Ella OYPL 2024 Finalists and Judging](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2024/04/DSC1276-scaled.jpg)
Ella Gordon, 2024 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![Nairobi](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2024/01/Nairobi.jpg)
Nairobi Barnes, 2023 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![Oakland Youth Poet Laureate 2022 Finalists and Judges](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2022/05/OYPL-2022-Finalist-Nadia-Elbgal-scaled.jpg)
Nadia Elbgal, 2022 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![OYPL 2021 Finalists](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/DSC4352-scaled.jpg)
Myra Estrada, 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![OYPL 2020 Finalist Greer Nakadegawa-Lee (3)](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/OYPL-2020-Finalist-Greer-Nakadegawa-Lee-3-e1627280983349.jpg)
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, 2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![OYPL_2018 Selena Davant-25](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/OYPL_2018-Selena-Davant-25-scaled.jpg)
Samuel Getachew, 2019 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![OYPL_2018 Selena Davant-17](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/OYPL_2018-Selena-Davant-17-scaled.jpg)
Leila Mottley, 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![OYPL 2017 Finalists - Lucy Flattery-Vickness Cropped](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2023/03/OYPL-2017-Finalists-Lucy-Flattery-Vickness-Cropped-scaled.jpg)
Lucy Flattery-Vickness, 2017 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![2016-06-04 07.13.42 2](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/2016-06-04-07.13.42-2-scaled.jpg)
Azariah Cole-Shephard, 2016 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
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Tova Ricardo, 2015 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![Sophie-0258](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/Sophie-0258.jpg)
Sophie Elkin, 2014 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![Obasi-5804](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/Obasi-5804.jpg)
Obasi Davis, 2013 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate
![Stephanie5999](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/07/Stephanie5999-scaled-e1627289243968.jpg)
Steph Yun, 2012 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate