Lisa Zheng is a sophomore at Maria Carrillo High School.  She is a Poetry Out Loud class winner and a volunteer at the Charles Schulz museum in Santa Rosa.  In Lisa's own words: Poetry is an empty Google Doc or a fresh leaf of paper where I can escape the rigid rules of school essays and pour my rawest experiences out. I sometimes even translate prose into rhythmic ballads by the piano. I am a “word nerd”: I like the elegance of specific words together and experimenting with unconventional syntax…My main purpose behind writing these poems, besides personal catharsis, is to give a voice to the psychological turmoils that many teens experience that are often kept in the dark due to shame of admittance, and give them a dose of hope and cause for change.”

Sabine Wolpert is a senior at Analy High School.  She is active in the leadership of many clubs including Analy Activist Club, Analy Zero Waste Club, Analy Eco Club, and more.  In her own words: "Writing is one of my favorites because it allows me to express myself and process the beautiful and vast world around me. Writing also allows me to explore new parts of myself and the things around me that I am curious about. I deeply value connection to the land and to the people around me. Growing up in community, I have truly learned the importance of this connection and how art can be a beautiful way to cultivate relationships. I hope to grow up to create a more positive and equitable world through whatever career I decide to pursue. Most of all, I want to chase joy and wonder."