Are you next Amanda Gorman?
CALLING ALL POETS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, EMCEES & WRITERS - WIN A CHANCE TO REPRESENT CINCINNATI AS THE 2022 CINCINNATI YOUTH POET LAUREATE
WordPlay is proud to be the founding partner and host for the inaugural year of The Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate (Cincy YPL) Program! Cincy YPL is a creative writing and civic engagement out-of-school competition that aims to identify youth writers and leaders who are committed to community service through poetry, performance, and social justice. This literary competition is a national initiative through Urban Word, powered by local education and literary organizations across the country. Previous National YPL recipients include Amanda Gorman, Alexandra Huynh, & many talented youth. To learn more about the National Youth Poet Laureate program, visit: https://www.youthlaureate.org/
In Cincinnati, YPL is hosted by WordPlay Cincy with the support of community partners, including The City of Cincinnati, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, University of Cincinnati's Elliston Poetry Room, and Cincinnati's Adult Poet Laureate Program. In April, which is National Poetry Month, we’ll select one Cincinnati-based teen poet to serve in the role of Youth Poet Laureate for the 2022-2023 term. This teen writer will be supported by local poets, mentors, and leaders throughout their term. This is an exciting opportunity to gain special access to mentoring opportunities, leadership development, and a diversity of performance engagements.
This student leadership opportunity also includes the following prizes: poems published in the National Youth Poet Laureate publication, a feature in the National Youth Poet Laureate annual anthology, entry into Regional Youth Poet Laureate contest, mentoring sessions & public performances with Cincinnati Poets Laureate Emeriti Pauletta Hansel and Manuel Iris, reading & speaking Engagements April 2022- March 2023, including major events with the City of Cincinnati, the Elliston Poetry Room at The University of Cincinnati & The Public Library of Cincinnati, printing and publishing of Poet’s works by the Library’s Makers’ Space, and a $1000 Scholarship.
The program is open to all youth, ages 14 - 18, in Cincinnati, OHIO. Applications are due by March 15th, 2022. For more information, please email youthpoet@wordplaycincy.org
Specifics: The program is open to all youth, ages 14 - 18, in Cincinnati, OHIO. Applications are due by March 15th, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST. Application Guidelines: *Must live in The City of Cincinnati, OHIO *Submit the following items: 1.) four written original poems (word docx or PDF files only) 2.) one video of a poetry reading (cell phone videos accepted) 3.) resume Note to Youth: If you need help, email us - youthpoet@wordplaycincy.org We recommend parents/guardians assist with submitting application materials. Upload your documents to this application OR email your RESUME, POEMS, and VIDEO Submission to: youthpoet@wordplaycincy.org The resume is an opportunity to share everything you have done, so put it all in there, feel free to BRAG about yourself and your accomplishments!
PRIZES INCLUDE:
• 5 Poems Published in the National Youth Poet Laureate publication
• Featured on National Youth Poet Laureate annual anthology by Penmanship Books
• Entry into Regional Youth Poet Laureate contest
• 1:1 Mentoring Sessions & Public Performances with Cincinnati Poets Laureate Emeriti Pauletta Hansel & Manuel Iris • Reading & Speaking Engagements April 2022- March 2023, including the Elliston Poetry Room at The University of Cincinnati & The Public Library of Cincinnati
• Printing and Publishing of Poet’s works by the Library’s Makers’ Space
• $1000 Scholarship
SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED FEBRUARY 1ST - MARCH 15TH
Judging March 2022. Announcement April 2022.
Submission Form: https://forms.gle/oTaYP3yqeXjowB7ZA
OR: Submit 4 original poems, a performance video, and a resume to youthpoet@wordplaycincy.org Resume should include your name, address, phone number, and email. Resume should detail your accomplishments, community service, after school programs, volunteer experience, and awards.
