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?

2025-2026 Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate

Congratulations to Finn Maxwell, who has been selected as the second Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate!

On April 17th, Finn Maxwell was announced as the 2025 Youth Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County by former YPL Dina Lusztig Noyes at Cabrillo College's Samper Recital Hall. The new cohort of SC County Youth Poet Laureate finalists includes Mason Leopold, Sylvi Kayser, Noemi Romero, and Xander Shulman. Each poet performed powerful poetry onstage and conveyed uniquely poignant messages. The cohort will continue to inspire and serve the community through leadership and poetry work.

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Inaugural Event

Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate Dina Lusztig Noyes, center, with youth poet laureate finalists, from left:

Gregory Souza, Simon Ellefson, Madeline Aliah and Sylvi Kayser during a celebration at Kuumbwa Jazz.

Image credit: Shmuel Thaler, Santa Cruz Sentinel

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