The Friends of the Oakland Public Library are excited to shine a light on the remarkable Oakland Youth Poet Laureate (OYPL) program, a unique citywide initiative that has been celebrating the voices of young poets for thirteen years. This program, managed by the Oakland Public Library Teen Services, is dedicated to fostering literacy through poetry and providing young writers with unparalleled opportunities for growth and recognition.
Each year, the OYPL program accepts submissions from talented Oakland writers aged 13-18. These submissions showcase the diverse and powerful voices of Oakland’s youth, and the program aims to amplify these voices, providing a platform for their insightful and passionate truths to be heard by the wider community.
The culmination of this year’s program was a live event on Friday, June 7, where 17-year-old Ella Gordon was named the 2024 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate after competing with eight other exceptional finalists. This prestigious title comes with a $5,000 college scholarship, generously funded by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, while each finalist received a $500 prize.
Ella Gordon, a senior at Oakland Technical High School, will represent the Oakland community through poetry, media, and public appearances throughout her tenure.
In addition to being the 2024 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Gordon is an Oakland Youth Poet Laureate 2023 Finalist, a Young Author Fiction Festival winner, and a regional winner in this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
The program’s success is a collaborative effort supported by a broad coalition of partner agencies across the Bay Area, including Chapter 510, Write-to-Read, Youth Speaks, and the Alameda County Library. These partnerships are vital in creating a nurturing environment where young poets can thrive and share their work with the community.
At its core, the OYPL program is about more than just poetry. It is about giving young people a voice, recognizing their potential, and providing them with opportunities to grow as artists and individuals. The Friends of the Oakland Public Library are proud to support this initiative and to witness the transformative impact it has on the lives of Oakland’s youth.
We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the achievements of this year’s laureates and finalists. Their words inspire and challenge us, reminding us of the power of poetry to create change and build connections within our community.
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