Local teens can open up their notebooks and showcase their poetic skills as part of the fifth iteration of the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program.
Applications for the 2027-28 YPL cohort open Saturday, Nov. 14, and will remain open through Feb. 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
Through this annual initiative, Long Beach youth ages 13 to 18 with interests in poetry, art and civic engagement can expand their creativity, share their voices and contribute to their communities.
The program is overseen by the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in collaboration with Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach Forward and Rancho Los Alamitos, as well as support from Urban Word NYC, founders of the National Youth Poet Laureate program.
“When young people are encouraged to create, question, and imagine, they help all of us see our community in new ways,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “The Youth Poet Laureate program celebrates that creativity while giving our youth meaningful opportunities to participate in the civic and cultural life of Long Beach.”
Since originating in New York in 2008, the National Youth Poet Laureate program has branched out to over 70 communities nationwide, with Long Beach first participating in 2023. In their roles, the burgeoning poets participate in poetry readings, workshops and other events throughout the city.
The city’s current and fourth-ever Youth Poet Laureate is Long Beach Polytechnic High School senior Ajala Sen. Also part of the 2026-27 cohort are Youth Poet Ambassadors Ruby Giles, Annali Bojorquez Cecelia Rogers, Kieran Lundy and Annali Bojorquez, under the tutelage of Long Beach-based poet Nancy Woo.
“The Youth Poet Laureate program gives young people more than a stage for their poetry; it gives them an opportunity to explore who they are, what they value, and how they want to contribute to Long Beach,” said Cathy De Leon, Director of Library, Arts, and Culture, in a public statement.
Rules for submission include a completed YPL application, a curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s civic and social engagement experience, a 100-word biographical statement and a portfolio of five poems.
Three application info workshops for the YPL program will be held in-person in the Teen Lounge at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) on the following dates:
- Session 1: Saturday, Dec. 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Session 2: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Session 3: Details to be announced
Submitted applications will be reviewed by a panel of local working poets, and finalists will be notified by email in spring 2027 and invited to share their work at a culminating public event in May. There, Long Beach’s fifth Youth Poet Laureate and the new class of Poet Ambassadors will be announced, with the former receiving a $1,500 scholarship and a $500 scholarship given to the latter.
During the program year, which concludes in April 2028, 2027-28 YPL cohort members will receive mentorship from a local poet, access to LBPL facilities and staff expertise and opportunities to strengthen their writing, leadership and community engagement skills. Additionally, they will join writing and craft workshops, receive feedback on their work and work alongside a variety of local artists, community organizations and literary partners.
To learn more about the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program, visit the program webpage or call 562-570-7500. Applicants with questions or wanting assistance with preparing their application, curriculum vitae or poetry portfolio can email LS-YPL@longbeach.gov to schedule virtual office hours.
