The Westchester County Youth Bureau is seeking the next Youth Poet Laureate, the second in the history of Westchester County. In 2019, the position of Westchester County’s Youth Poet Laureate was officially created by County Executive George Latimer in response to requests from Scarsdale teen Danielle Kohn and County Youth Bureau Executive Director Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden.
The Youth Poet Laureate will work with the Westchester County Youth Bureau by creating opportunities that encourage children and youth to engage in a myriad of activities ranging from creative writing, spoken word poetry, playwriting and film making. If selected, the individual will collaborate with the educational institutions such as schools and colleges, local libraries, after-school programs, along with the current Westchester County Poet Laureate BK Fischer.
Latimer stated: “It was an honor to introduce the inaugural Westchester County Youth Poet Laureate and we are very proud of this program that is undertaken by few other counties. We are particularly proud of the immensely talented youth who have the courage to share their private thoughts through their poetry with the world. We look forward to appointing the next Youth Poet Laureate in the coming months.”
Harris-Madden stated: “Poetry is an art form that creatively addresses education and literacy, but also civic engagement. Finding the next Laureate will be a challenge as there are countless youth who exemplify literary excellence. Yet, we are confident that we will identify the next Amanda Gorman, Meera Dasgupta, or Alexandra Huynh, former U.S. Youth Poet Lauereates.”
Fischer stated: “Our young people have everything at stake, and poetry is one way they can give voice to their fiercest hopes, fears, and visions for the future. I’m eager to collaborate with our next youth poet laureate to bring the power of words and imagination to more people of all ages here in Westchester County.”
Youth interested should email Susan Weisman in the Westchester County Youth Bureau at ssw9@westchestergov.com by Friday, October 7.
