San Francisco, July 15 — Young poets, writers, and performers ages 13–19 are invited to apply for a prestigious new opportunity! 826 Valencia, Youth Speaks and San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), together with Mayor Daniel Lurie, are relaunching San Francisco’s Youth Poet Laureate (SFYPL) program. The Laureates will serve as culture ambassadors, building on the City and County of San Francisco’s longstanding tradition of appointing a San Francisco Poet Laureate and Drag Laureate. This annual program will support the development of a dynamic cohort of youth poets who will represent the City through their art and civic engagement.  

“San Francisco is home to artists and writers that have inspired the world and I'm excited to continue investing in and uplifting our young artists,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “This program gives our youth the chance to strengthen their writing and share their stories through poetry. I’m proud to support the return of the Youth Poet Laureate and the next generation of artists who will inspire San Francisco and beyond.” 

This program brings together institutions across San Francisco with a shared goal of celebrating creativity, expression, and most importantly, our youth. These students are the future leaders, innovators, and changemakers of our city. The cohort will include 10–15 young writers ages 13 to 19 years old, who will participate in an advanced workshop series every two weeks in San Francisco from September 2025 through January 2026. After the fall workshops, two exemplary cohort members will be selected as San Francisco’s Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate. Participants will receive a scholarship stipend of $700 through a K2C college savings account.  

“The Library is excited to collaborate with Mayor Lurie and two remarkable San Francisco organizations dedicated to fostering the creativity of young San Franciscans to reestablish the Youth Poet Laureate program,” says City Librarian Michael Lambert. “We hope to elevate this program and serve our community in new and meaningful ways over the coming weeks, months and years.”  

"826 Valencia is thrilled to be a part of the San Francisco Youth Poet Laureate team. We believe that writing is power, and we are dedicated to uplifting the voices of young writers here in San Francisco. The launch of this program marks the beginning of a new story, and we are honored to support these young poets as they write a new path forward," says Bita Nazarian, 826 Valencia’s Executive Director. 

"Being Poet Laureate is a great honor and commitment to your city and your artistry. Serving my city of Hayward, I am thankful for the art and community spaces I have grown up in and been invited into,” says Leticia Guzman, Youth Speaks teaching artist and Hayward Poet Laureate. “This experience has built my artistry, my confidence, and belonging in and to my city." 

Additionally, the entire cohort will be invited to apply for the statewide and national youth poet laureate submissions and will receive application advisory sessions. The cohort will also be published in 826 Valencia's SF Youth Poet Laureate Anthology and will have opportunities to perform in San Francisco in the spring of 2026.  

To be eligible, participants must reside in San Francisco and be between 13 and 19 years old. A selection committee of current and previous Poet Laureates and Youth Poet Laureates will review the applications. The application deadline is August 9 at 11:59 p.m. 

Applications can be submitted online: sfpl.org/youthpoetlaureate