Youth Poetry Fellowship

Honoring young writers committed to civic and community engagement.

Applications for the 2023-24 Youth Poetry Fellowship are open March 27th-April 28th!

The 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Release

Join us for a moment of celebration, contemplation, and healing found in the brave voices of the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate program. Scroll below to view our new video gallery, which celebrates the announcement of Zinnia Hansen as the 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate, as well as original works from the entire 2021/22 YPL cohort!

Spikenard is available to purchase!

We’re thrilled to announce the May 2022 release of Spikenard by the 2021/22 Seattle Youth Poet Laureate Zinnia Hansen. The seventh collection in the Seattle Youth Poet Laureate Series, Spikenard is a philosophical contemplation of family, religion, and the reverential observations of an interior mind.

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The Youth Poetry Fellowship (YPF) program is made up of a group of teen writers and leaders committed to poetry, performance, civic and community engagement, education, and equity across the Puget Sound region.

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.

Beauty is a tongue you will learn to speak.

— “For Black Boys,” by 2015/16 Youth Poet Laureate Leija Farr

It’s a strange thing to know that you’re loved. A foreign concept, but these, surely, are foreign lands.

— Wei-Wei Lee, 2019/20 Youth Poet Laureate

To be granted this position this year has given me a louder voice, but it has also made people take me and my writing legitimately.

— Lily Baumgart, 2017/18 Youth Poet Laureate

Azura Tyabji is an emerging poet, prose writer and justice seeker cuspinig new genres and bending Documentary style poetry. A modern day apostle of unrepentant certitude . . . May all the established poets hold [this] new work, by [this] new author closely.

— Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet, Author of (v.), Forget it, and Answer (Me)

Ways to Get Involved

Applications for the 2023-24 YPF program are open from March 27 – April 28, 2023.

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 are open from March 27 – April 28, 2023. Youth can apply here.

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].

"Womb" by Zinnia Hansen

Zinnia Hansen, the 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate, reads the original piece “Womb.”

The 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Members

"Happy Birthday" by Sejal Akerkar

Sejal Akerkar, the 2021/22 YPL Cohort Leadership Ambassador, reads the original piece “Happy Birthday.”

"I'm not gonna let you go 'til you're a hundred" by Bayla Cohen-Knott

Bayla Cohen-Knott, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “I’m not gonna let you go ’til you’re a hundred.”

"Alley Cats" by Wilhelmina Colby-Oosterwyk

Wilhelmina Colby-Oosterwyk, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “Alley Cats.”

"To My Dearest Grandson" by Ricardo Gurango

Ricardo Gurango, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “To My Dearest Grandson.”

"Sugar" by Ayana Islas

Ayana Islas, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “Sugar.”

"War Zone" by Avni Rao

Avni Rao, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “War Zone.”

"The Shut-Tight Clam" by Margot Ratchman

Margot Ratchman, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “The Shut-Tight Clam.”

"Solidity Laid All in Duality of Softness" by Tallula Shaughnessy

Tallula Shaughnessy, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece “Solidity Laid All in Duality of Softness.”

"Mornings with Mother" by Zora Sowinska

Zora Sowinska, 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Cohort Member, reads the original piece, “Mornings with Mother.”

Photo Gallery

Marina Chen, of the 2019/20 YPL Cohort, opens SAL’s event with Carmen Maria Machado by reading an original poem.

Wei-Wei Lee, 2019/20 Youth Poet Laureate, practices on stage before SAL’s event with Amor Towles.

2019/20 YPL cohort member Zoë Mertz reads through her poem backstage at Hugo House before opening for Paisley Rekdal’s poetry reading.

The 2019/20 Youth Poet Laureate cohort.

The 2019/20 Youth Poet Laureate Commencement.

The 2018/19 Youth Poet Laureate cohort.

The 2018/19 Youth Poet Laureate cohort members prepare for their performances before the YPL Commencement at Folklife on May 26, 2018.

All former Seattle Youth Poet Laureates at the YPL Commencement at Folklife on May 26, 2018.

2016/17 Youth Poet Laureate Maven Gardner & YPL Co-Founder Aaron Counts, with copies of Maven’s book, Blood Melody.

2018/19 Youth Poet Laureate, Lily Baumgart, opens Mary Ruefle’s reading with a performance of “Dissection of a Western Kingbird.”

2016/17 Youth Poet Laureate Maven Gardner opens SAL’s 2017/18 SAL Presents event with Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Seattle Arts and Lectures

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Youth Poetry Fellowship

Applications for the 2023-24 Youth Poetry Fellowship are open March 27th-April 28th!

The 2021/22 Youth Poet Laureate Release

Spikenard is available to purchase!

The Youth Poetry Fellowship (YPF) program is made up of a group of teen writers and leaders committed to poetry, performance, civic and community engagement, education, and equity across the Puget Sound region.

Ways to Get Involved

For Students

For Teachers

For Community Members