The National Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) Competition is a program championed by Urban Word NYC. The program identifies influential youth poets. In 2021, The Nebraska Writers Collective launched the first-ever YPL season with inaugural poet, Mimi Yu. Our current YPL is Tanya Bachu.
The 2023 Nebraska YPL will receive: $1,000—up to $2,000—towards a community engagement project of their design, year-long guidance from a creative and civic mentor, chapbook under the NWC Press, up to six public readings in Nebraska, and eligibility to participate in regional and national YPL competition.
The Finals Ceremony will be held on May 20th at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. Poems from each of the finalists will be shared and the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate will be crowned. Other finalists are Am’agyn Spencer from Beveridge Magnet Middle School, Amelia Escalante from Bellevue West High School, Ta’tiyona Copeland from UNO OPS Middle College, and Aliyah American Hose from Gordon-Rushville High School.
