VOX ATL is home to Metro Atlanta’s Youth Poet Laureate Program!

What is the Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate Program?

The Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify young writers and leaders who are committed to civic & community engagement, poetry & performance, human relations, diversity, social justice and education across Metro Atlanta.  

Timeline:  January 2027 – April 2027

Who’s Eligible:

• Residents of the Metro Atlanta Area (ie: Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, or Gwinnett county)
• Teens 13-18 years of age
• Teens with an interest in poetry writing and performance, as well as a demonstrated interest in community engagement and youth empowerment

YPL Benefits:

• Serve as a representative for youth voice and poetry in Metro Atlanta (access to performances, readings, etc.)
• Be published in the National Urban Word Youth Poet Laureate Anthology
• Eligible to compete in the regional and national Youth Poet Laureate competitions and all national Youth Poet Laureate programming with other youth across the country
• Option to receive either a $500 prize or the resources to self-publish and print your own chapbook

Application Process:

1.  The 2027 application will be linked here when it opens on December 14, 2027.
2. Applicants are required to:
   • Submit 5 original works of poetry
   • Submit a resume, CV, or brag sheet detailing the applicant’s accomplishments, community service, after-school program participation, awards, or anything else the applicant wishes to highlight about themselves
   • Submit a video recording of the applicant performing one of their pieces
   • Submit adequate responses to all application questions
3. After the submission period has closed, the applicant pool will be narrowed to five finalists by community judges. The five finalists will then be invited to compete in a slam at our Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate Commencement ceremony. This commencement showcase will take place in Atlanta, GA. All five finalists will have to be present to be honored at the event for their commitment to community and the arts. At the conclusion of the event, the 2027 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate will be chosen.

Email questions to ypl@voxatl.org

2027 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) Timeline

Application Opens – December 14, 2026 – March 22, 2027

The Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate is a joint program of Urban Word NYC (National Youth Poet Laureate home) and VOX ATL. This program is supported in part by funding from the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.