The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) has selected Maram Haddad as the 2024-25 Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) following a competitive selection process.
Haddad, currently a junior at Pacific Grove High School, will begin her one-year term in May. Throughout the year, she will participate in various county events to promote poetry and literacy, earning an honorarium of $1,000.
Applicants for the Youth Poet Laureate program submitted a resume, a statement of civic engagement, a statement of social justice, and five original poems. A panel of judges evaluated these submissions based on content, theme, voice, and structure, as well as the community, civic, and social impact of the applicants’ work.
The judging panel included Monterey County Poet Laureate Rachelle Escamilla, poet and professor Chrissy Hernandez, and Jesus Valenzuela, Community Engagement Manager for the City of Soledad.
In addition to Haddad’s appointment, runner-up Ariana Diaz, a senior at Rancho San Juan High School, and honorable mentions Anixia Davila, Dania Garcia-Castillo, Ieleen Li, and Vivian Mata were recognized for their outstanding contributions.
Arts4MC’s Executive Director Jacquie Atchison expressed enthusiasm for the program’s growth, noting the exemplary performance of the first Youth Poet Laureate, Mahi Shah, and looking forward to Haddad’s tenure.
The community is invited to a commencement ceremony on Monday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Marina Library Community Room. This free event will feature readings of original poems by the finalists and the newly appointed Youth Poet Laureate.
The Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate program, organized by Arts4MC in collaboration with Urban Word, celebrates young voices dedicated to artistic excellence, community involvement, and social change.
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