Now in its fifth year, the Allegheny County Youth Poet Laureate, an initiative of The National Youth Poet Laureate Program, recognizes and celebrates our nation’s top youth poets committed to artistic excellence, civic engagement, and social impact. The Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County is awarded to an artist between 13-18 years old who is passionate about their art and their communities. City of Asylum hosts an annual Youth Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Ambassador commencement reading to celebrate the new cohort and showcase their works. 

City of Asylum has traditionally hosted the annual commencement reading on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, the holiday happens to also fall on Inauguration Day. Holding space for the history that has influenced them and the world that awaits them, the five-poet cohort will be reading new work on the topic of the future. How will leaders and activists shape our future? What will we be like in the future? Are we hopeful? Scared? Uncertain? Youth Poet Laureate Oluwatobiloba Olaore and Ambassadors Vanshika Jain, Linda Kong, Monroe Law, and Sarah Voigt will explore these questions and more in this reading and discussion. 

About the Poets:

Oluwatobiloba Olaore has been a lover of all forms of literature since she was a little girl. Now, she uses poetry as a way to express and advocate for issues she is passionate about, such as social justice, identity, and mental health. When she’s not writing, you will find her devouring a book or listening to music.

Vanshika Jain is a sophomore at Mt. Lebanon High School and a mixed-race, second-generation immigrant whose Indian and South African heritage profoundly shapes her work. She is the upcoming author of Letters to the Empire, a historical fiction novel exploring the personal struggles of individuals amidst British colonial rule. Alongside her novel, Vanshika has published two research papers examining how historical events contribute to the spread of epidemic disorders across generations. Passionate about social justice and amplifying youth voices, Vanshika was recognized as the “Most Powerful Youth Advocate” by Save the Children for her impactful leadership as Student President of the DTCare charity. She has also been a dedicated dancer for over a decade, with expertise in African Tribal and Classical Kathak dance, bringing cultural depth to her artistic expression.

Linda Kong is a poet who is fascinated by apocalypses. In her poetry, she often explores girlhood, diasporic identity, and human responses to momentous change. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, her work has been recognized in the 2024 Ralph Munn Creative Writing Anthology and the Ligonier Valley Writers Student Poetry Contest. Outside of writing, Linda is a co-editor-in-chief of her high school’s literary magazine and plays violin in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Monroe Law is very passionate about social activism and creative writing. Monroe believes that in today’s age, the most powerful thing a person has is their voice. With globalization unlike any other generation, it’s so critical that young people use their resources and their voice to speak out about the injustices that happen daily. The way Monroe chooses to speak out is through writing, using a pen (or more accurately a keyboard) to talk about things that matter. It paints the world in a more beautiful lens while talking about dismal truths. 

Sarah Voigt is a senior at Shady Side Academy. She began writing creatively when she was little and has since experimented with flash fiction, short stories, and poetry. Some of her recent literary projects include starting a seasonal poetry competition at her school and co-hosting “The Young Poets Society,” a podcast featuring young writers in Pittsburgh. Outside of writing, Sarah loves playing cello in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, hanging out with her sister, and watching Audrey Hepburn films. As a Youth Poet Ambassador for City of Asylum, Sarah is excited to connect with other young people who share her love for literature.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant Cucina Alfabeto is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.