The 2025-26 cohort has been announced, and you can read about them here.
Their commencement performance will be on Monday, January 19th at 7pm at Alphabet City and you can register to attend here.
Calling all songwriters, spoken word artists, emcees, and poets!
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.
The 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County will receive:
- a $250 prize
- artistic support and paid performance opportunities during the 2025-26 academic year
- entry into the National Youth Poet Laureate competition
- paid performance for the Commencement Ceremony
- access to the YPL Institute Sessions
- and more!
To be eligible for the 2025-26 award, you must:
- be a resident of Allegheny County during the 2025-26 academic year
- be 13-18 years old in August 2025
- demonstrate community involvement
- demonstrate engagement with social justice causes
In addition to the Youth Poet Laureate, four Youth Poet Ambassadors will also be selected from the same criteria. Each Youth Poet Ambassador receives:
- a $50 prize
- artistic support and paid performance opportunities during the 2025-26 academic year
- paid performance for the Commencement Ceremony
- and more!
2025-26 applications have closed. 2026-27 applications will open in August 2026.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Youth Poet Laureate Coordinator at poetlaureate@cityofasylumpittsburgh.org.
Meet our Youth Poet Laureate Alumni
Sarah Voigt
Monroe Law
Linda Kong
Vanshika Jain
Oluwatobiloba Olaore
Emily Tea
Aja Lynn
Jade Davis
Audrey Alling
Grey Weatherford-Brown
Youth Poet Laureate in the Press
- Saturday Light Brigade, “Youth Express: City of Asylum Youth Poet Ambassadors“
- Kidsburgh, “This free poetry workshop can help teens apply to become the next Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County“
- Saturday Light Brigade, “Youth Express: Allegheny County Youth Poet Laureate and Ambassadors | Neighborhood Voices“
- Kidsburgh, “Meet this year’s Youth Poet Laureate, whose writing puts a spotlight on social justice and personal growth“
- Pittsburgh Union Progress, “High school poets honor MLK with a night of poetry“
- Trib Live, “Poetry pop-up event to generate buzz for 1st Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books“
- Pitt Wire, “Ones to Watch: Danielle Obisie-Orlu“
- Bridges & Books Podcast, “EPISODE 14: Roseanne A. Brown & Fandom Culture” ft. Danielle Obisie-Orlu
- The Pitt News, “Danielle Obisie-Orlu champions love, empathy as county youth poet laureate“
- NEXTpittsburgh, “Meet Danielle Obisie-Orlu, the new Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County“
- Kidsburgh, “10 things to do with kids this week in Pittsburgh”
- Bridges & Books Podcast, “EPISODE 1: Rachael Lippincott, Vincent Folkes, & Joyful Queer Rep in YA“
- Sampsonia Way Magazine, “Why We Write: Inside the Creative Process with the Poet Laureates for Allegheny County“
- Pittsburgh Current, “City Of Asylum Names Four Poets Laureate For Allegheny County“
- Kidsburgh, “5 questions for Vincent Folkes, Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County — and a poem“
- WESA, “City of Asylum launches Poet Laureate Program“
- NEXTpittsburgh, “All Pittsburghers are Poets: City of Asylum creates Poet Laureate posts, open to all Allegheny County residents“
City of Asylum is grateful for support from the following partners:
This project is supported in part by the taxpayers of Allegheny County through the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). RAD works here.
Urban Word is the leader of the National Youth Poet Laureate Network and the primary partner of the Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County program.
