2024 Youth Poet Laureate Naisha Randhar

Youth Poet Laureate Naisha Randhar will hold the title for one year. She will work with the Dallas Poet Laureate to encourage youth poetry. A 9th grade student at The Hockaday School, Randhar participates in debate and Model UN, she runs track, and she volunteers as a tutor at Joe May Elementary every week. A voracious reader and writer, Randhar wrote and self-published a fantasy novel when she was twelve.

The Youth Poet Laureate is designed to encourage and support the literary talent of young people pursuing creative endeavors and to provide a platform for a youth voice in Dallas.

The Youth Poet Laureate is a one-year term, announced at the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition Award Ceremony in April. The Youth Poet Laureate will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Poet Laureate’s work and photo will be on display in all Dallas Public Library locations during the term.

Youth Poet Laureate duties will include:

• film a promotional video for the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition to inspire students to submit their original creative works to the contest

• provide a public reading of their poetry at a minimum of one speaking engagement between May and August

• attend the next Express Yourself! Award Ceremony (in-person or virtually if out-of-town)

Other opportunities include (depending on availability):

• speaking to elementary classes about poetry and the Express Yourself! competition September to January

• public engagements as requested

• work with the Dallas Poet Laureate to develop programs and initiative to engage youth in poetry

• receive mentoring from the Dallas Poet Laureate on their own creative works

All Youth Poet Laureates must:

• reside within the City of Dallas or attend a school within the city limits

• attain the age of 15 by May 1 in the term year but no older than 20

• complete the online application including:

  • five original poems; one poem must be based on the theme of Dallas - living in Dallas, issues affecting Dallas, Dallas history, etc.

  • contact information for an adult reference who can speak to the applicant’s suitability to be poet laureate (non-family person, for example, a teacher, coach, employer, neighbor, etc.)

  • biography including extracurricular activities, published works, academic and other achievements

  • statement of why they should be the Youth Poet Laureate

  • description of what community service organizations or events they have participated in the City of Dallas

For more information email libyouthservices@dallascityhall.com