826 Valencia, Youth Speaks, and the San Francisco Public Library are partnering with the Mayor’s office to launch San Francisco’s first Youth Poet Laureate (SFYPL) program! This annual program will support the development of a dynamic cohort of youth poets and select a Primary SFYPL and a Vice SFYPL who will represent their city through their art and civic engagement.
The cohort will consist of 10–15 young writers (13–19 years old) who will participate in an advanced workshop series every two weeks in San Francisco (September 2025–January 2026). Participants will receive a scholarship stipend of $700 through a K2C college savings account. After the fall workshops, two exemplary cohort members will be selected as San Francisco’s Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate.
The Laureates will serve as culture ambassadors for our city, building on the City and County of San Francisco’s longstanding tradition of appointing a San Francisco Poet Laureate and Drag Laureate.
Additionally, the entire cohort will be invited to apply to the statewide and national Youth Poet Laureate competitions and will receive application advisory support as well as publication and performance opportunities in the Spring of 2026.
To be eligible, participants must:
- Reside in San Francisco
- Be 13–19 years old
How to apply: Please complete this application.
Application deadline: August 9 at 11:59 pm (PST)
We look forward to reading your applications!
Photo of 826 Valencia student by Stefan Gruenwedel