10Jun
Youth Poet Co-Ambassador
I’ve always used poetry as an outlet for my emotions. Sometimes I’ll just write prose, and other times I’ll use poetry in my songwriting. The power of words is so important and I believe that teens today can make such an impact with what they have to say. I hope to help MPC develop a program that encourages high schoolers to share their unique experiences, cultures, emotions, and step out of their comfort zones.
Naomi Ko loves to play the guitar, write, and sing in her free time. She is a senior at St. Ignatius College Prep and will be an Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper this fall. She also contributes to SI’s literary & arts journal and plays in the jazz band.
Youth Poet Co-Ambassador
Cade Palmer is a Junior at Novato High School and a member of the Marin School of the Arts Creative Writing program. He began experimenting with short fiction near the end of middle school and has since developed a profound passion for poetry and its potential to impact the communities we participate in. He has been featured in numerous publications both in and out of school and continuously seeks out greater heights through which he might hope to influence the younger members of his generation to develop their creative lens and see the relevance of art in our understanding of the place we live in.
Youth Poet Co-Ambassador
I remember my first introduction to poetry. It comes to me in snippets, images of me and my classmates crafting haiku poems on desks sticky with glue, little papers fluttering to the carpet. I loved how when I wrote, the world faded away and I was left in a space where I could do anything, be anyone, while also being myself….Writers can change the world. Words are powerful and can leave a lasting imprint, not only in our communities but in our hearts.
Tashi Manchip enjoys reading, writing, and doing art in her free time. She has assisted in elementary school classrooms both in-person and online. Tashi is a Senior at Tamalpais High School and will co-lead their Creative Writing Club this fall.
Youth Poet Co-Ambassador
Poetry has improved my life because it allows me to express myself when I’m feeling stressed or uncertain. I believe the practice of self-expression is an important part of being human, and that writing poetry can be both self-healing and self-reflective. I want to help others experience this feeling. In order to strengthen my community and the well-being of my peers and neighbors, I seek to spread the beauty of poetry all across the county. In addition, I further aspire to help establish a program in Marin that would allow the county to nominate an individual for Youth Poet Laureate.
Jackson Bramlette is a Senior at Redwood High School and will lead their Creative Writing Club this fall.
Youth Poet Ambassador
Harita Kalvai serves as MPC's Inaugural Youth Poet Ambassador, and an incoming junior at Terra Linda High School, and within TL, the Marin School of Environmental Leadership. Throughout middle and high school she became more involved with social advocacy - especially surrounding Climate Change - leading to a position as the leader of Marin Citizen Climate Lobby’s youth action team. Alongside CCL, she also works with Beyond Differences on ending social isolation in middle schools. This past January, she worked with Marin Poetry Center, the Mill Valley Library, and CCL on a Poetry/Environmentalism event called Words To Live By, which was focused on teenagers using poetry as a way to express their thoughts on the effects of climate change.
Description
MPC’s Youth Ambassador program seeks to support arts leadership in future generations and commit to the future of poetry in the Bay Area.
The Youth Ambassador position is a one-year appointment commencing in May of each calendar year for which MPC is able to offer an honorarium of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) per term. MPC is also able to offer a complimentary one-year MPC membership, and an opportunity to attend MPC workshops tuition-free, open or host MPC Reading events, visit Bay Area classrooms with English or bilingual instruction, and propose projects in conjunction with their creative interests. Throughout their term, the Youth Ambassador should participate in a minimum of three public functions (in-person or online) anywhere in the Bay Area.
Qualifications
Youth Ambassador candidates should be between the ages of 13 and 19 and demonstrate an interest in poetry, community, and social change. In appointing a Youth Ambassador, MPC will consider the quality of the candidate’s written-word or spoken-word poetry, as well as the candidate’s history of leadership or participation in community events with literary, environmental, and/or social justice focus. MPC may conduct its own candidate search process or seek applications or additional information from candidates. It is MPC’s intention to seek Youth Ambassadors from diverse backgrounds who live throughout the Bay Area (not limited to Marin County).
Application
Submission period: Friday, February 24, 2023 - Monday, March 27, 2023 at 11:59PM PST
Questions? Email webmaster@marinpoetrycenter.org
