Apply for Virginia Young Poets in the Community

Virginia Young Poets in the Community

Virginia Poet Laureate Luisa A. Igloria invites applications from young poets throughout Virginia at the elementary, middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels to represent their region as a Young Poet in the Community. Along with panelists from the Poetry Society of Virginia, Igloria will review applications and select five Young Poets in the Community in each of the six Poetry Society of Virginia regions (Southeastern, Eastern, Northern, Northwestern, Central, North Central).

Young poets will be selected for the relevance and quality of their poems and/or their performance presence. In addition, applicants must propose a project which they can carry out during the award year (or from December 2021—June 2022). The project should specifically help enhance awareness and appreciation of poetry and its role as a tool for social change, community/civic engagement, and emotional well-being in their community.

Young poets are invited to send their poems and vision for how to use poetry to build a better world and work creatively with others. Apply by October 15 to receive cash prizes, along with a certificate of recognition. Young Poets in the Community will also be invited to participate in virtual conversation/reading programs with the Virginia Poet Laureate to highlight their winning project proposals and contribute to their growth as young poets.