Northwest Florida Youth Poet Laureate
The Emerald Coast Youth Poet Laureate Program celebrates talented young poets who demonstrate artistic excellence, leadership, civic engagement, and a commitment to making a positive impact through their words.
In 2008, Urban Word founded the nation's first Youth Poet Laureate Program in New York City. Since then, the program has grown into a national network of local and statewide partners dedicated to elevating young writers and helping them use poetry to inspire change.
Starting in 2026, Emerald Coast Writers partnered with Urban Word to create a Youth Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida. The National Youth Poet Laureate Program fosters a love of writing among our younger community members, a mission we gladly support.
Youth Poet Laureates
The following Youth Poet Laureates earned their positions by:
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Demonstrating skill, originality, and a strong personal voice in their poetry
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Showing leadership and involvement in their schools or communities
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Caring about issues affecting others and believe their voices can make a difference
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Preparing to serve as positive representatives of young people and the literary arts
By earning the title of Northwest Florida Youth Poet Laureate, they also have the opportunity to apply for the Regional Youth Poet Laureate title and potentially advance for consideration as the National Youth Poet Laureate, provided they meet Urban Word’s current age and eligibility requirements.
Below, we have listed each Youth Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida commemorated by Emerald Coast Writers.
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