Long Beach Youth Poets Take the Stage: 2026 Youth Poet Laureate Finals Set for May 16

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Selected 2025 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Ezequiel Correa recites his literary work during a live ceremony held on May 17, 2025.

Long Beach, CA - The Department of Library, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the National Youth Poet Laureate program, the Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach Forward, and with support from Urban Word NYC, is proud to present the 2026 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Finals Ceremony. The event will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.).

"It has become, in recent years, an honest labor to speak-especially when many of the powerful in the world intend to deceive," shared Correa. "Serving as Youth Poet Laureate has been a remarkable opportunity to help shape a world that reflects our voices. It has made me not only a stronger writer but a more responsible human being. What begins here grows into something much larger-our world. The readings, the conversations, the act of creating-it all adds up to an experience beyond words."

The 10 finalists for this year's Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program include:

• Annali Bojorquez (she/her), 17, is a junior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. After traveling across 17 countries, she has developed a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. Her poetry explores identity and connection.
• Adele Odetta (she/her), 16, is a sophomore at Long Beach Polytechnic High School whose work centers social justice issues including gun violence, climate change and sexual trauma. She is active in performing arts and community service.
• Ajala Sen (she/her), 17, is a junior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a Los Angeles County Youth Poet Ambassador, and a published poet and musician. She uses poetry and music to inspire connection, political awareness and change.
• Annalysse Sullivan (she/her), 15, is a freshman at Millikan High School who balances poetry with swimming, volunteering and playing viola. An avid reader, she draws inspiration from stories and everyday reflection.
• Cecelia Rogers (she/her), 15, is a freshman at Millikan High School and a young activist who uses poetry to express her beliefs. She also enjoys photography and performing with her theater group.
• Eden Gonzalez (she/her), 14, is a freshman at McBride High School and current Long Beach Youth Poet Ambassador whose nationally recognized work challenges social norms and explores the human experience across genres.
• Emely Ibanez (she/her), 18, is a senior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a first-generation student and a percussionist. Through poetry, she uplifts community voices and fosters empathy.
• Kieran Lundy (he/him), 16, is a sophomore at Long Beach Polytechnic High School whose work has been published and recognized by major youth literary programs. He brings a thoughtful, literary voice to his poetry.
• Liam "Lee" Balmeo (they/them), 16, is a junior at Millikan High School, spoken word artist and youth advocate. Their award-winning work blends poetry and service, uplifting marginalized communities.
• Ruby Giles (she/her), 17, is a sophomore at Blue Ridge Academy whose work centers on disability advocacy and poetry as protest. She amplifies marginalized voices through writing grounded in history and social justice.

The Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program celebrates the vibrant voices of local teens who lead with language, courage and purpose. It uplifts young writers who use poetry and spoken word as tools for civic engagement and social change, amplifying the stories and experiences of their communities.

Launched nationally in 2008 by Urban Word NYC, the Youth Poet Laureate initiative now spans more than 70 cities across the country. Long Beach joined this national movement in 2023, naming Wilson High School's Claire Beeli as its first Youth Poet Laureate. The outgoing 2025-26 cohort, featuring Youth Poet Laureate Ezequiel Correa and Youth Poet Ambassadors Eden Gonzalez, Macuilquiahuitl Ixeh, Adele Odetta and Maddox Harris, has represented Long Beach through citywide workshops, public performances, and regional literary events.

This event is free and open to the public. People are encouraged to RSVP as space is limited. All are welcome to attend and support Long Beach's next generation of poetic changemakers. For more information, visit the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Program website or call 562.570.7500.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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