Sonoma County
Youth Poet Laureate
.jpeg)
LISA ZHENG
Sonoma County Youth Poet Laureate, 2024-25
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
Sonoma County Youth Poet Ambassador 2024-25
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."
Sonoma County California Poets in the Schools aims to acknowledge a student who has achieved excellence in poetry. To this end, we will name the next Youth Poet Laureate of Sonoma County in April, 2024. We will support this young person as an emerging arts leader for the county - who is helping to raise the profile of poetry and develop its audience.
Specifics:
-
This student should be between the ages of 13 and 19.
-
They must be a county resident who expects to remain in the county between April 2024-April 2025.
-
They should also have demonstrated their commitment to literary arts and community engagement through participation in volunteer and community service, clubs, afterschool activities, and extra academic activities.
-
California Poets in the Schools will administer this program as a regional partner of Urban Word.
-
The Youth Poet Laureate will serve a one year term and is expected to participate in at least four public functions.
-
YPL will receive a $500 prize and a publishing contract for a chapbook of their work, or an anthology that includes their work and that of other finalists.
Procedure:
-
YPL nominations may come from any organization or individual.
-
Application must be completed online.
-
We will email or mail a hard copy application to anyone who requests one. Please contact meg@cpits.org to request.
-
With the application, three of the student’s poems must be submitted, totaling no more than ten pages.
-
For finalists, an adult sponsor will be required to provide a letter of support.
-
A committee of respected local poets will review applications and choose finalists.
-
A parent/guardian must sign the application for applicants under the age of 18.
-
Finalists will be asked to attend a judging session so that their ability to present their poems effectively (as well as writing good poems) can be assessed.
-
The winner will be announced in April 2024.
PAST YOUTH POET LAUREATES OF SONOMA COUNTY INCLUDE:
%20(1)%20(1).jpg)
ELLA WEN
Sonoma County Youth Poet Laureate, 2021-22
Ella Wen is a senior at Maria Carrillo High School and is incredibly passionate about the arts, especially poetry. She loves dedicating her time to helping those around her, whether it be volunteering at a local community kitchen or reciting and writing poems for public audiences. Poetry has inspired her to cultivate a relationship with herself, the realm of art, and the ever-changing world, being the language her heart feels most free in.
ZOYA AHMED
Sonoma County Youth Poet Laureate, 2020-21
Zoya Ahmed served as the first Youth Poet Laureate of Sonoma County in 2020-21. Zoya attended Maria Carrillo High School in Sonoma County. Zoya embraces her diverse background as a first generation South Asian American, having both roots in Pakistan and India. This colorful heritage is her drive. Every day Zoya is empowered to work hard towards achieving her goals, humbled by the opportunities she is given, and inspired to give back to the community. Her biggest motivators are her parents and her family, who encourage her each and every day. They are her muse; they symbolize the meaning of sacrifice in her life. Their stories, especially those of the women in Zoya's family, are what give her writing a spark of creativity and perspective.