A Vista Mar High School student has been selected as Long Beach’s second Youth Poet Laureate, while five other local youths were chosen as Poet Ambassadors.
Helena Donato-Sapp was chosen to engage with local youth and spark creativity, help create programming and receive mentoring to grow her already special talents. The program is meant to “empower Long Beach youth to drive positive change in their communities through activism and art,” according to a press release from the City.
“The Youth Poet Laureate program showcases the incredible talent and passion of our city’s youth,” stated Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “Helena and the Poet Ambassadors represent the future of Long Beach, and I am confident that they will inspire positive change through their words and actions.”
Donato-Sapp stood out due to her “remarkable portfolio of poems and extensive civic engagement,” according to the press release. Her work often centers social justice issues and inspires positive transformation, embodying both vulnerability and strength. She’s written about topics such as educational colonization, activism, disability justice, anti-bullying and Black girlhood.
Fourteen-year-old Donato-Sapp is also the youngest City Commissioner in Long Beach, serving on the Commission for Women and Girls. In addition to the honor of being chosen as the Youth Poet Laureate, she will also receive a $1,500 scholarship.
“I am so grateful to be the 2024 Youth Poet Laureate of the City of Long Beach,” Helena Donato-Sapp said in a public statement. “Last year, as one of the inaugural Youth Poet Ambassadors, I made great friends with my cohort, and we learned so much and served our city well. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Claire Beeli, the first Youth Poet Laureate, and thank her so much for showing me the way.”
Joining Helena in this prestigious role are five Poet Ambassadors: Liam Balmeo, Jorany Chim, Ezequiel Correa, Sammantha Martinez and Ajala Sen.
Over the next year, until spring 2025, the YPL Cohort will engage local youth in literary arts programming, receive mentorship, and collaborate to bring community projects to life. The program aims to foster personal connections with organizations and individuals throughout the city, culminating in the creation of a citywide literary initiative.
“At its core, the Youth Poet Laureate program is a celebration of youth at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic engagement,” said Cathy De Leon, Director of Library Services in a public statement. “It has been a truly wonderful experience to witness the journey of each poet participant throughout this program’s inaugural year, and we look forward to growing the Youth Poet Laureate program at the library each successive year.”
