Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510.981.6100
tmayer@cityofberkeley.info
Julia Segrè is the Inaugural Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate & Serena Griffin awarded Vice Youth Poet Laureate
Berkeley, California (January 24, 2024) – At a well-attended celebration in the Central Library’s ground floor teen room last night, the Library announced the winners of the first ever Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate program. The Library partnered with the National Youth Poet Laureate Program and Urban Word to launch this new program that elevates the voices of Berkeley youth.
Julia Segrè, a 16-year-old poet and athlete at Berkeley High, has been chosen as the inaugural Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate. Serena Griffin, a St. Mary’s College High School Junior and soon to be two-time published author has been chosen as the inaugural Vice Youth Poet Laureate.
“We heard powerful voices last night; all in attendance, including our esteemed panel of judges, our community partners, library patrons and staff were inspired and uplifted,” said Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services. “This new program is an important platform for supporting the collective power of expression and exploration of ideas which is fundamental to what libraries stand for.”
Over the last six months the panel of judges, that included the former El Cerrito Poet Laureate Maw Shein Win, as well as multiple local authors and creative leaders, vetted the submissions from twenty teen poets that attend schools or reside in Berkeley.
“I think the best part of reading the poetry submissions was seeing current events and concerns expressed by the writers and how they process this information and express their emotions,” noted Kirstin Mandalay, Teen Librarian. “Seeing major news through the teens’ eyes was really moving, and I was impressed with the quality of writing and the emotion behind it.”
To read all the submissions, go to: https://bit.ly/BYPL23Chapbook.
Stay abreast of upcoming poet laureate workshops and events by subscribing to the Library’s “Library Happenings” e-newsletter and checking the Library’s online event calendar.
For questions regarding this program, please visit https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/berkeley-youth-poet-laureate-program or email youthpoet@berkeleyca.gov.
For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
More about Julia Segrè
Julia Segrè (she/her) started writing in her 7th grade English class, as part of her school’s Oratorical Fest. Since then, she has been writing as a way to explore topics such as femininity, identity, folktales, and the way words shape every corner of our community. Through spoken word, she hopes to inspire the next generation to
continue to create change through vulnerability. She served as the Alameda County co-Vice Youth Poet
Laureate in 2022 and currently serves on SPOKES, the youth advisory board for Youth Speaks. When not
writing, you can find her playing or coaching Ultimate Frisbee, hiking, or playing guitar.
More about Serena Griffin
Serena Griffin is a writer of various forms, dedicated to amplifying her voice in a way that reflects and
celebrates unique stories, struggles, and triumphs. Through her creations, Serena hopes to inspire feelings of
understanding and connection that work to uplift and empower. She is a soon to be two-time published
author who is excited to continue her journey of using words to create art!
More About the National Youth Poet Laureate Program
Founded in 2008, the National Youth Poet Laureate Program identifies and celebrates teen poets who exhibit
a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, youth leadership and social justice. YPL collaborates
with local youth literary arts organizations across the country, as well as leading national literary organizations
including the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities, the Academy of American Poets, Poetry
Society of America, PEN Center USA, Cave Canem, and the Library of Congress.
More About Urban Word
Urban Word is an award-winning youth literary arts and youth development organization that collaborates
with local youth literary arts organizations across the country to provide uncensored platforms for youth
voice. It is championed by the leading national literary organizations, including the President’s Committee on
the Arts & Humanities, the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America, PEN Center USA, Cave
Canem, and the Library of Congress.
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