PRESS RELEASE

Above: 2024 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Finalists, from left to right: Sammantha Martinez, Kieran Lundy, Sofia Uribe, Helena Donato-Sapp, Ezequiel Correa, Ajala Sen, Brina Sastyangkul, Jorany Chim, Liam Balmeo

Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach and supported by Urban Word NYC, announced today the 2025 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program. This initiative offers young residents of Long Beach the chance to inspire positive change in their communities through the power of activism and poetry. Applications open on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, for Long Beach youth ages 13 to 18.

“The Youth Poet Laureate program represents the spirit of creativity and activism that defines Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Through the power of their words, our young poets are shaping the future of our city one verse at a time. I’m incredibly proud to see our community continue to support programs like this, which empower our youth to lead and inspire others.”

Applications for the 2025 YPL program will be accepted from Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, through Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Interested youth are encouraged to submit a completed application, a curriculum vitae highlighting their civic and social engagement, and a portfolio of five original poems. Details on how to apply, including templates and submission guidelines, are available on the official YPL website. Applicants with questions can schedule a virtual office hour for assistance with their CV and poetry portfolio.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of local poets and finalists will be notified via email once judging is completed in spring 2025. Finalists will be invited to participate in a public reading event in May 2025, where the next Youth Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Ambassadors will be announced. The selected Youth Poet Laureate will receive a $1,500 scholarship, while each Poet Ambassador will receive a $500 scholarship.

In addition to financial awards, members of the YPL Cohort will receive mentorship from a local poet and access to various resources to help bring their community-focused projects to life. This includes support from LBPL staff and facilities, literary arts workshops, and partnerships with local literary and community organizations. By the end of the program year in April 2026, each cohort member will also be given the opportunity to select and execute a service project that highlights artistic excellence, civic engagement and social impact, which are key components of the program.

The National Youth Poet Laureate program, which began in New York City in 2008, now operates in over 70 communities across the United States. Long Beach joined this prestigious network in 2023, marking this as the City's third year in the program. Helena Donato-Sapp, a current sophomore at the Orange County School of the Arts, was named Long Beach's second Youth Poet Laureate at the 2024 ceremony in May 2024. Alongside her, five Youth Poet Ambassadors—Liam Balmeo, Jorany Chim, Ezequiel Correa, Sammantha Martinez and Ajala Sen—have participated in a range of workshops, poetry readings and other events throughout Long Beach under the mentorship of local poet Nancy Woo.

“At the Long Beach Public Library, we believe in the transformative power of words,” said Director of Library Services Cathy De Leon. “The Youth Poet Laureate program is a platform for artistic expression and a vehicle for young people to engage with their communities and spark meaningful change. We are thrilled to support this new generation of leaders as they use poetry to elevate their voices and create lasting impact.”

For more information, please visit lbpl.org or call 562.570.7500.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Public Library visit www.lbpl.org and follow @lbcitylibrary on Facebook, X and Instagram.