Youth Poetry Fellowship

Honoring young writers committed to civic and community engagement.

LOVELIKE is available to purchase!

We’re thrilled to announce the June 2023 release of LOVELIKE by the 2022/23 Seattle Youth Poet Laureate, Sah Pham. The eighth collection in the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate Series, LOVELIKE is a meditation on all of love’s forms and all the ways love touches our lives: connection, family, lineage, history.

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The Youth Poetry Fellowship (YPF) program serves a cohort of young writers committed to poetry, performance, civic and community engagement, education, and equity across the Puget Sound region.

Over the course of the school year, Fellows meet regularly for workshops with the Youth Poetry Fellowship mentors. Fellows also have numerous public opportunities to share their voices, leadership, and love of Seattle throughout the course of the year. One of the fellows, the Youth Poet Laureate, will publish a poetry collection that will be released in June 2024 by Poetry NW Editions.

The Seattle Youth Poet Laureate, along with the Youth Poetry Fellows, has numerous opportunities and platforms to share their powerful voices, their leadership, and love of Seattle at regional events throughout the course of the year.

The Youth Poet Laureate also publishes a poetry collection, released in May by Poetry NW Editions.

Over the course of the school year, Fellows meet for workshops, collaborate print projects, and perform at public readings.

and we, in bated breath, asked
if there is such a thing as empty, spaceless time

— “LOVELIKE,” by 2022/23 Youth Poet Laureate Sah Pham

To travel is to be a passenger whose
memory faithfully carried your legacy to shore.

— Adhya Kona, Youth Poetry Fellow 21/22

I know there is a heart
beating, beyond the blue sky.

— "Spikenard," 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate, Zinnia Hansen

Ways to Get Involved

Applications for the 2023-24 YPF program applications are closed for this year and will reopen for the 2024-25 cohort next spring

The Youth Poetry Fellowship offers:

The Youth Poetry Fellowship is a year-long poetry fellowship for youth (ages 14-19) led by mentors Nanya Jhingran & Jourdan I. Keith. Fellows meet in Seattle every other month on weekday early evenings (September 2023, November 2023, January 2024, March 2024, May 2024) for mentor-led workshops that focus on generative writing and community building. Participation in the fellowship also includes seasonal reading opportunities and free access to all 2023-2024 Seattle Arts and Lectures events and the chance to read on SAL stages as opening reader for visiting writers.

One fellow will be selected to serve as the Youth Poet Laureate (YPL). The YPL will be a leader within the fellowship and will work closely with mentors to publish a book of poems through Poetry NW Editions. The YPL will also receive additional public reading opportunities and will serve as a youth voice to the broader literary community.

Note: All applicants to the Fellowship can opt-in to be considered for the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate position, but it is not a requirement.

To Apply

Applications for the 2023-24 Youth Poetry Fellowship are open from March 27th-April 28th, 2023.
Fill out this Google form to submit your application. Please upload 3 original typed poems in a PDF, and 1 video recording (3 minutes or less) of you reading an original poem in the Google form.
Your entire application is due by 6pm on Friday, April 28th. Each applicant will be considered for the Fellowship, and you can opt-in to be considered for the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate Role.

Applications for the 2023-24 Youth Poetry Fellowship program applications are closed for this year and will reopen for the 2024-25 cohort next spring

Know a star poet or leader who you think would be a fantastic fit for the Youth Poetry Fellowship and/or the title of Seattle Youth Poet Laureate? Encourage them to apply!

Interested in inviting the current Youth Poet Laureate to speak at your event? Fill out this Speaker Request Form, and email [email protected] to be connected.

To connect with current or past Youth Poet Laureates on other matters, email [email protected].