If your teen loves words, slam poetry, advocacy or writing that lifts up community voices, City of Asylum’s Youth Poet Laureate Program is one of the best creative opportunities in Allegheny County. The program encourages young writers through mentorship, paid performances, and media attention to help promote their works and voice.
Here is how families and teens can apply to the program, what it is, and what this year’s poets are working on.
What the Youth Poet Laureate Program Is
City of Asylum’s Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County program, running for 6 years, is part of a national initiative that promotes teen poets who demonstrate not just artistic excellence, but also civic engagement and social impact.
Students are recognized for their advocacy and writing, and given the support necessary to continue to share their voice and art with the county and beyond.
Each year, one teen is selected as the Youth Poet Laureate, and a group of Youth Poet Ambassadors are chosen alongside them. All of the honorees receive:
Creative support and paid performance opportunities
Monetary prizes rewarding their work and expression
A chance to compete for the National Youth Poet Laureate Title
How Teens Can Get Involved
Although applications for the 2025-26 season have closed, students can prepare to apply for next year’s cohort. Applicants must be 13-18 years old, live in Allegheny County, and be actively involved within the community.
Being a Youth Poet Ambassador has been a great experience for me. Past honorees, including in my own cohort, often encourage teens to keep writing consistently, experiment with different poetic styles, and get comfortable not only putting words on the page but also speaking and sharing their work aloud.
A bit of advice for applicants, submissions are evaluated through two lenses: the strength of your writing and your engagement with social or political advocacy. That dual focus allows students who care deeply about poetry and community impact to find a place in the program.
Before becoming an ambassador, I didn’t fully realize how many Pittsburgh communities I would get to interact with by doing things like speaking at writing events and collaborating with nonprofit organizations, including City of Asylum itself. Those opportunities pushed me to develop my public speaking skills, while sharing what mattered most to me socially and politically. They also connected me with people who shared similar values, while opening doors to new ones.
Mark your calendars: The next cohort opens in August right here: cityofasylum.org/ypl/
Photo courtesy of City of Asylum.
This Year’s 2025-26 Cohort
This year’s cohort features a vibrant group of young voices. You can read more about them here and watch them in action on January 19, 7:00 PM at Alphabet City free of charge. Here is a snapshot of what makes each student unique!
Ivanna Smith – A junior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts and poetry editor for her school’s literary journal, Ivanna loves all forms of writing. Whenever she isn’t writing you can find her reading, watching movies or playing on her school’s volleyball team.
Vanshika Jain – A junior at Mt. Lebanon High School, she loves to blend history into her writing and social commentary. Her biggest piece of work has been her internationally best selling historical fiction novel, Letters To The Empire.
Monroe Law – A senior at Winchester Thurston, she is passionate about social activism. Monroe writes poetry as a way to speak out about global and local injustices. She believes that using her voice is one of the most powerful forms of advocacy, and chooses to express herself not just by sharing her writing, but her advocacy work as well.
Ashley Shim – A senior at North Allegheny High School, she is inspired by conversations from the world around her, and her own family and culture. Ashley uses poetry as a way to give voices to stories that are not told, she also uses her love of science to guide her writings.
Lillia Strickland – A senior at Montour High School, Lillia’s love for poetry grew from slam poetry sessions and activism. She is a strong advocate for environmental preservation, which she advocates through her own lifestyle choices and writing. Her poetry is deeply personal, and charged, reflecting her view of the world.
Supporting Them
This group of talented young poets will be featured at readings and community events, starting with the annual commencement reading on Jan. 19, 7 p.m. at Alphabet City, where they’ll share work pertaining to the theme of “artificial.” Tickets are free and available here.
Whether your teen is thinking about applying next year, experimenting with writing, or just looking for new ways to express themselves, City of Asylum’s Youth Poet Laureate Program is a truly powerful place.
I personally knew it was the right opportunity because it allowed me to interact more with the community. I’m still working with many of the non-profits I met, including SLB Radio and their partners at Kidsburgh. This experience also allowed me to develop my confidence and awareness when speaking about issues I care about, whether they were social, political, or personal. For teens who see poetry as both creative expression and a way to engage with the world around them, the Youth Poet Laureate Program is a great way to start.