PRESS RELEASE

Above: Participants from the 2023 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Program lined up 
to read their poems to a group of spectators.

Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach and supported by Urban Word NYC, proudly invites community members to attend the upcoming 2024 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) ceremony where the top poet laureate and four poet ambassadors will be selected. Set to take place on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at the historic Edison Theater (213 E. Broadway) in Downtown, this event promises an inspiring celebration of youthful creativity and poetic brilliance.

“Long Beach is honored to celebrate the diverse voices and poetic talent of our youth”, said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Through the Youth Poet Laureate program, we are nurturing creativity and empowering our community's next generation of leaders."

The 90-minute culminating ceremony, led by local poet Nancy Lynée Woo, will include the 9 finalists' captivating performances, where each finalist will present two poems from their portfolio, with the final judging unfolding during the event. The esteemed judging panel includes poets F. Douglas Brown, Michelle Brittan Rosado and current Youth Poet Laureate Claire Beeli, who will announce the 2024 YPL Cohort.

"We warmly welcome you to join us at the Youth Poet Laureate Ceremony, a delightful celebration of young talent and the beauty of words,” said Library Director Cathy De Leon. “It's an evening where creativity takes center stage, and every poem is a testament to the vibrant spirit of our community.”

The selected top Poet Laureate will receive a $1,500 scholarship and the four Poet Ambassadors will each receive a $500 scholarship. Together, the YPL Cohort will engage Long Beach youth in literary-arts programming over the next year and will be provided with mentorship and resources needed to bring the community projects and vision of Long Beach’s future to life. At the completion of the program in May 2025, the YPL Cohort will have created a citywide literary initiative and have made personal connections with organizations and individual partners throughout the city.

The nine finalists for this year’s Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program include:

• Ajala Sen, age15, is a ninth-grader at Polytechnic High School. Music, poetry and literature are her forms of expression. Ajala is actively involved with Jazz Angeles, a non-profit music organization that performs jazz throughout Long Beach.
• Brina Sastyangkul, age 16, is a 10th-grader at Millikan High School. Brina enjoys writing because it is an outlet without judgement. She hopes to inspire other quiet and shy kids to write as a way to express feelings unseen. Three adjectives she’d use to describe herself are determined, curious and perceptive.
• Ezequiel Correa, age 16, is a 10th-grader at McBride High School, has faced losses and new fears, particularly in finding a storytelling style amidst comparisons. Ezequiel believes joining the YPL cohort will bring hope and excitement and the opportunity to grow and find a voice among fellow storytellers.
• Helena Donato-Sapp, age 14, is a ninth-grader at Vista Mar High School. Helena believes in the power of youth voice and uses her own in the work of justice and equity. She is a published author, exhibited artist, working poet, and sought-after keynote speaker who has been featured on the Disney Channel and in Discovery Education. Helena is newly confirmed to the Commission for Women and Girls. Helena’s awards include the Global Youth Award for Educational Leadership, the 2023-2024 Heumann-Armstrong Award, and the Yes, I Can Academic Award, among many.
• Jorany Chim, age 15, is a 10th-grader at Millikan High School and writing has always been an outlet to express words unspoken and hopes to inspire someone else who can relate. Jorany’s work may not follow typical poetry writing standards, but believes art is what you make it.
• Kieran Lundy, age 14, is an eighth-grader at Hughes Middle School and is one of the four inaugural Youth Poet Ambassadors of Long Beach selected in 2023. Kieran has been sharing his writing for almost a year now including reading poetry at the AAPI Festival of Books and the Long Beach Youth Festival.
• Liam Balmeo, age 14, is a ninth-grader at Millikan High School and hopes to pursue a career in literature studies and music. Liam’s poetic goal is to address and raise awareness of the many social issues in the world and to help others persevere and understand their own.
• Sammantha Martinez, age 17, is an 11th-grader at Polytechnic High School. Sammantha is an initiator, inspirer and community builder. Sammantha hopes to enlighten young individuals on the opportunities available in Long Beach and assist them in discovering their outlet for creativity in order to give them motivation.
• Sofia Uribe, age 16, is an 11th-grader at Millikan High School. She is currently working on a video project called “Breath Work” that focuses on air quality in Long Beach led by Long Beach Forward’s artist-in-residence Nina Sarnelle.

Originating in New York in 2008, the National YPL program has expanded to over 70 communities nationwide, with Long Beach joining this esteemed cohort in 2023. Claire Beeli, a senior at Wilson High School, was selected as Long Beach's inaugural Youth Poet Laureate. Beeli, along with Poet Ambassadors Helena Donato-Sapp, Matilda Iem, Kieran Lundy, and Sofia Uribe, have since exemplified the program's spirit through workshops, poetry readings, and citywide engagements.

“My experience with the YPL program has been nothing short of transformative. The commitment of the program's leadership, the community of young poets we've built, and the doors the program opens into Long Beach's rich literary scene will stick with me for life. I've learned so much about poetry, craft, and community from this program, and benefitted from opportunities like performances at City Council meetings and the chance to attend readings by the U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón. I cannot recommend this program enough to any young writer,” said Beeli.

Residents can stay updated on the latest Library news and activities by following LBPL on Facebook, X and Instagram or by visiting the events calendar at lbpl.org.

About the City of Long Beach    
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Public Library, visit lbpl.org and on social at: Facebook, X and Instagram.