YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM
CALLING ALL
Poets, Spoken-Word Artists, Writers, Rappers, Emcees
2025 YOUTH POET LAUREATE APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN OCTOBER 1, 2024
YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM APPLICATION 2025
The North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program identifies youth poets (ages 13-18) who excel in the literary arts, (poetry/creative writing/spoken-word performance) academics, community service and social activism.
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The YPL program is open to students in the following North Central Florida Counties:​
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Alachua • Baker • Bradford • Clay • Columbia
Dixie • Gilchrist • Hamilton • Lafayette • Levy
Madison • Putnam • Suwannee
Taylor • Union
CULTIVATING THE CREATIVE SPIRITS AND INTELLIGENT MINDS OF OUR STUDENTS
Two years ago (April 2023), in celebration of National Poetry Month, The North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program selected Rachel Xu as the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of North Central Florida.
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Rachel Xu is a senior at Eastside High School in Gainesville, Florida representing Alachua County.
LITERARY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT POWERFUL VOICES
THE NATIONAL YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM is an initiative of "Urban Word", in collaboration with local youth literary arts organizations across the United States, The President's Committee on The Arts and Humanities, and championed by the leading national literary organizations, including the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America, PEN Center USA, and Cave Canem.
For more information about this wonderful program and partnership opportunities. Contact North Central Florida Youth Laureate Program: info@artspeaksgnv.org