The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate program given by the Oakland Public Library is an unprecedented citywide effort to celebrate literacy through poetry and connect young writers to far-reaching opportunities from ages 13-18.
Martha Quinn had the chance to speak with the 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate winner, Leila Mottley, who told us all about the program and how this years 10 finalists will be up for the 2019 award! The Laureate earns an educational scholarship and embarks on a year of opportunities as an ambassador for literacy, arts and youth expression.
Please join Leila and the rest of the finalists on Friday, June 7 at 7 pm for an evening poems and talent at the Oakland Museum of California-James Moore Theater. CLICK HERE for more!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2019 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Finalists:
Eleanor Wikstrom, Skyline High School, age 16
Jordan Tisnado, Dewey Academy, age 17
Zouhair Mussa, Oakland High School, age 15
Lizette Navarro, Oakland School of the Arts, age 16
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, Oakland Technical High School age 14
Monique Nadine Jonath, The College Preparatory School, age 16
Samuel Getachew, Oakland Technical High School, age 16
Darien Em, Oakland High School, age 16
Siara Edmond, Skyline High School, age 14
Hayden Beaulieu, (high school graduate), age 18