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Applicants sought for 2024-25 Stanislaus Youth Poet Laureate
Youth Poet Laureate

The Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center (MoSt Poetry), in partnership with the Stanislaus County Library, Stanislaus County Office of Education, and MJC’s School of Language Arts and Education, announced the contest is open for 2024 Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program.

The poet laureate program brings Stanislaus County youth the opportunity to create positive change in their communities through activism and art. It is open to students ages 15 to 19 who reside or attend schools in Stanislaus County. The application period for the inaugural Stanislaus County YPL program closes at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2024.

Pitman High student Faith Delgado was selected as the inaugural Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate in 2023.

faith delgado
Pitman High student Faith Delgado was selected as the inaugural Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate in 2023.

Youth interested in applying are asked to submit a YPL Application. Included in that application is a request for a summary of civic and social engagement experience and a portfolio of three to five poems. Submission guidelines and an application are available on the YPL webpage (https://www.mostpoetry.org/contests/ypl).

Applicants with questions may email Stella Beratlis at ypl@mostpoetry.org. Submissions will be judged by a panel of local working poets and other selectors connected with our partner organizations. The selected Poet Laureate will receive a $500 scholarship.

Altogether, the YPL program will engage Stanislaus County youth in literary arts programming for one year, beginning June 2024 and ending in May 2025. In addition to the scholarship, the YPL will be provided with the mentorship and resources needed to bring their community projects and vision of Stanislaus County’s future to life. These resources will include access to MoSt Poetry’s organizational infrastructure and board members as well as support from partnering community organizations and the local literary arts community.

By the end of the program year in May 2025, the YPL will have made personal connections with organizations and individual partners throughout the region and will have had the opportunity to create a countywide literary initiative serving youth.

For more information, please visit https://www.mostpoetry.org