Dear Supporter of Youth Voice,

The Youth Poet Laureate Program is aimed at elevating youth voices that are committed to artistic excellence and social justice. Rooted in critical literacy and cultivated in safe space, the goal of the Youth Poet Laureate Program is to create a platform for thought leadership through poetry and spoken word that prioritizes youth voice, elevates historically marginalized narratives, and allows these young leaders to access spaces to be heard that they are traditionally denied.

The Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate Program started in 2020, by 2020-21 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Janice Lobo Sapigao and the Santa Clara County Library District in partnership with Urban Word, and with the support of the Academy of American Poets, the Poetry Society of America, PEN America, Cave Canem, the Library of Congress, the National Endowment of the Arts, and Penmanship Books. Currently in 70+ cities nationally, this program will award the title of “Youth Poet Laureate” to Santa Clara County each year, and provides platforms for youth in the program to use their powerful voices for social impact.

Your support of this program ensures that Santa Clara County produces and facilitates the annual SCC Youth Poet Laureate Program, and ensuring that our youth have safe and dynamic spaces to grow as young writers, performers and leaders. 

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“Youth are a vulnerable population in this current era we are living in--they are the ones staying home to protect us and keep us safe from COVID-19, they are the ones working and contributing to our local and national economies as essential workers, they are at school and meeting with friends through a social media app or computer screen. So much has been taken from them, but their voices will remind us to give back to them what they give us: hope.” – Janice Lobo Sapigao, 2020-2021 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate

"Jóvenes son una población vulnerable en este tiempo en que vivimos--ellos son los que se quedan en casa para protegernos y mantenernos seguros en contra de COVID-19, ellos son los que están trabajando y contribuyendo a nuestras economías nacionales y locales como trabajadores esenciales, ellos están en el colegio y reuniéndose con amigos por aplicaciones de redes sociales o por la pantalla de la computadora. Ellos han perdido mucho, pero sus voces nos recordarán darles algo que ellos nos dieron: la esperanza.” – Janice Lobo Sapigao, 2020-2021 Poeta Laureada del Condado de Santa Clara

Please consider inviting us to present about the program to your students, community, and staff. Your help will support program workshops, events, and leadership opportunities for the Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate and their peers. 

Please consider making a one-time or sustaining donation to champion youth voice, and please note that your donation is for the Youth Poet Laureate Program.

Poetry Center San Jose is the official sponsor for the program and these funds will be restricted for the program.

Thank you!