of Prince George's County

Tues, Aug 19th, 4:00 - 5:30 PM, Greenbelt Library
Fresh Voices Open Mic

Michaela Lacy (2018)

THE RADIANCE CONTINUES - Congratulations goes out to Prince George's 2023 YPL Precious Foreman for recently winning the title of MISS BLACK MARYLAND TALENTED TEEN 2025!! ...and of course for the talent portion of the event, you KNOW she blew everyone away with her poem, "An Ode to Big Women"!



ATTENTION ALL CREATIVE WRITERS GRADES 8 THRU 12
WHETHER YOU ARE AN ASPIRING POET, AUTHOR, STORYTELLER OR PODCASTER
SIGN UP NOW FOR THE PGCPS TEEN WRITERS CONFERENCE 

The Teen Writers Conference is a unique and enriching experience designed for student writers across Prince George’s County. This conference is a one-day event in which you will engage with professional authors and educators to enhance your writing skills, explore professional aspects of writing, and interact with professional writers in a fun and supportive environment. As a participant you will also have the opportunity to share and perform your work. For more information, call 301-237-6684


OUR 2020 COUNTY YOUTH POET LAUREATE, MARISSA MICHEL, has proven herself to be a multi-layered artist, moving from poetry to digital art, and now to FILMAKING! 

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Dominique Holder (2016)

GRATITUDE GOES OUT to our 2022 YPL Imani West for the leadership, grace & creativity shown throughout her laureateship, touching hearts & minds everywhere from community centers to the Kennedy Center! Her soft-spoken yet magnetic performances has inspired hundreds across the DMV, even earning herself an internship at The White House! Way to go, Imani!

Thurs, Dec 18th, 4:00 - 5:30 PM, Surratts-Clinton Library
Fresh Voices Holiday Open Mic

WITNESS Montpelier's "Hidden Spaces" presentation, which explores the side entrances, passageways & sleeping areas for the enslaved which were tucked away throughout the mansion. 


LEARN the stories of resilience & resistance from our people - for example; every year, there were at least 30 instances of runaway slaves from Montpelier.  


AFTER THE TOUR, go exploring on your own, relax outside in the courtyard, talk to the guides, or walk along the trail surrounding the property - writing & reflecting.
 

WE ARE INTERNATIONAL! Here, our 2019 & 2021 Prince George's Laureates are interviewed by BBC News about The Amanda Gorman Effect

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO OUR 2025

YOUTH POET AMBASSADORS


ARIANNA FULCHER - Brentwood


CHARLENE BADAWU - Fort Washington


ELIZABETH ALARAPE - Laurel​


ADEBIMPE OMOTOSHO - Upper Marlboro


NEVAEH WILLIAMS - Temple Hills


XAVIER PERRY - Upper Marlboro ​

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FOR THESE TEENS, This is the first step to a professional career as a writer & public speaker - any organizations interested in booking any of our youth poets for  any functions, please contact Patrick Washington at 301 237 6684 or Neville Adams at 240 426 2629

Precious Foreman (2023) 

One Youth Poet Laureate. Four Ambassadors.  Five youth poets who are paving the way to the future.

LEARN MORE

PAST PGC YOUTH POET LAUREATES

Mi'Jan Credle (2019)


The announcement was made during the 10th Annual Youth Poet Laureate Finals, held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Bowie Branch Library in Bowie, Maryland. Seven exceptional youth poets, ages 13–19, competed for the title in an inspiring afternoon of spoken word and storytelling.


Kaylee stood out for her authenticity, poetic strength, and fearless storytelling—embodying what it means to use art as a tool for connection, reflection, and resilience.
The event also featured a special appearance by outgoing 2024 Youth Poet Laureate SANIYA PEARSON, who reflected on her journey and passed the torch to Kaylee with a message of encouragement and pride


In addition to naming the 2025 laureate, the event celebrated the achievements of the other six talented finalists for their inspiring artistry & dedication to their communities:
ARIANNA FULCHER – Brentwood
CHARLENE BADAWU – Fort Washington
ELIZABETH ALARAPE – Laurel
ADEBIMPE OMOTOSHO – Upper Marlboro
NEVAEH WILLIAMS – Temple Hills
XAVIER PERRY – Upper Marlboro


The evening also honored CHIMWEKELE OKORO, recipient of the Lucille Clifton Scholarship, awarded in recognition of poetic excellence and promise.

COMING  IN APRIL - NATIONAL POETRY MONTH PROJECTS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF ELEVATING & AMPLIFYING

YOUTH VOICES

ALSO, TO COMMEMORATE the 100th birthday of the iconic author, playwright & social scientist, James Baldwin, Marissa joined our Dialect poets in celebrating him by creating a video poem, titled, "ECHOES" - combining scenes of life, love and hope in his honor... Enjoy!

KAYLEE JOGE - THE 2025 PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY YOUTH POET LAUREATE

FRESH VOICES IS COMING!

Join Kaylee & all of our youth poets as we partner with Prince George's Memorial Library System to embark on a performance tour at county branches all year!

SAINEY CEESAY, OUR 2021 YPL, has continued making her mark beyond her Laureateship by lending her voice for multiple virtual events & speaking engagements.  She was recently commissioned to write and perform an original poem dedicated to the grand opening of the new Hyattsville Library and absolutely blew everyone away!  Everyone loved her poem so much that after  her standing ovation, the PGCMLS official asked for a copy of the poem to frame in the Library's front entrance - now THAT'S how to leave an impression!

KAYLEE JOGE OF RIVERDALE NAMED THE 2025 PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY YOUTH POET LAUREATE

15 year old Kaylee Joge of Riverdale, Maryland is the 10th Youth Poet Laureate of Prince George's County.  Kaylee has been writing seriously for just under 3 years, but began venturing out to perform publicly in September 2023. She says, "From the moment I wrote my first, real poem, I realized it was my way to understand myself and get a grasp at this quickly changing world around me". Her poems read like instant classics on paper, but when she takes the stage, she breathes a vibrant energy into every stanza. Kaylee and her supporting cohort of Youth Poet Ambassadors will embark on a reading tour at county libraries & perform across the DMV, addressing issues impacting teens today. 

Wed, June 18th, 4:00 - 5:30 PM, Hillcrest Heights Library
Fresh Voices Open Mic

Her poetry performance begins at 39:00

SAINEY IN ACTION!

Wed, Oct 22nd, 4:00 - 5:30 PM, Bowie Library
Fresh Voices Open Mic

Sainey Ceesay (2021)

Imani West (2022)

ONCE AGAIN THIS SPRING, The Dialect Poets and YPL Ambassadors will visit the Montpelier House Museum in Laurel, Maryland as part of the, "Fighting Destiny Tour". 

Marissa Michel (2020)

Saniya Pearson  (2024) 

OUR 2024 YPL has been busier than any other Youth Poet Laureate before her - touching hearts & minds across the DMV! Saniya has performed at gala events for the Library of Congress, the National Center for Children and Families, The Community Foundation, and at the official ribbon cutting for Bowie State University’s new multi-million dollar Martin Luther King Jr. Communications Center.

Samantha Jackson (2017)

Marissa recently teamed up with 2022 YPL Imani West to shoot & edit a video for Imani's original poem titled, "My Hair My Crown" - a short film that follows Imani as she explores her hair journey through the years & how her hair affects how she is perceived by the world around her. The video features Poetry and interviews recorded at the beautiful Wellspring Manor Spa and at Natural Touch Hair Studios in Upper Marlboro.


Check out the video below!

Youth Poets