The Arts of Kenmore’s Youth Poet Laureate Initiative (AOK/YPL) is a pathway supporting youth building arts portfolio for career & college readiness: including publishing, leadership, and performance opportunities, and community engagement.

  • April 14 — Registration Deadline: Applications must be received before 11:30 PM (using the form this page).
  • April 17 — Live auditions at the Hangar in Kenmore’s Town Square, 6728 NE 181st St, 5-7 PM

One applicant will be selected by a jury panel to serve for one year: May 2025 through April 2026.

The position of Kenmore Youth Poet Laureate is open to all students who plan on attending a Northshore area school in 2025-26.

Register Now

Submission Requirements

  • Submit five (5) original poems by the April 14 deadline (via the form on this page).
  • Confirm that submitted works are unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Attend the live audition and interview on April 17 at the Hangar, 5pm-7pm.

Awards

  • The selected applicant will receive the title of Youth Poet Laureate for one year.
  • $100 honoraria sponsored by Griffith H. Williams & East Point West Press
  • East Point West Press publication of a chapbook of YPL’s original poetry
  • Mayoral Proclamation by Kenmore City Council
  • Solo exhibition at City Gallery in Kenmore City Hall, during April 2026 National Poetry Month
  • Invitations to perform at City of Kenmore and community events
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SERVICE PROJECT

Selected applicant will create a service project that supports poetry in the community

JURY PANEL

The following panel will adjudicate written submissions and spoken audition:

  • Griffith H. Williams, East Point West Press poet, publisher and retired NSD English teacher
  • Terry Busch, local editor and poet
  • Chris Jarmick, poet and owner of Kirkland’s BookTree bookstore,
  • Elizabeth Wang, Youth Poet Laureate 2024-25

Register Early!  Don’t wait until April 14th!

Register Here

  • Poem Submission

    Please submit a minimum of 5 poems, each in a separate document. Please save or export your documents to PDF format. The 6th poem submission is optional.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Approx. 100 words.
  • Approx. 100 words.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Empowered by AOK | Sponsored by East Point West Press.