Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate

Santa Cruz Public Libraries, in partnership with Urban Word, celebrates local youth poets with the opportunity to serve as the Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate. Youth poets will exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement and social justice. The Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate will serve a one-year term and participate in several engagements throughout the year.

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What's New?

2026 - 2027 Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate

Congratulations to Vicky Tinnell, who has been selected as the third Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate!

On April 16th, Vicky Tinnell was announced as the 2026 Youth Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County by former YPL Finn Maxwell at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. The new cohort of SC County Youth Poet Laureate finalists includes Bella Dowd, Ash Raznick, Felice Rickwald, and Ror Spaugh. Each poet shared their work onstage and conveyed uniquely poignant messages. The cohort will continue to inspire and serve the community via leadership and poetry.

Youth Poetry Celebration

Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate Vicky Tinnell, right, with former Youth Poet Laureate Finn Maxwell

Image courtesy of Chingwell Mutombu

From left: Finn Maxwell, Mason Leopold, Noemi Romero, Vicky Tinnell, next to finalists Ash Raznick, Bella Dowd, Felice Rickwald, and former Poet Laureate Farnaz Fatemi during the Youth Poetry Celebration at Kuumbwa Jazz.

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Please feel free to contact Farnaz Fatemi at sasqi@mac.com for inquiries.