Youth Poet Laureate Grand Slam

Presented by Urban Word NYC and NYC Votes, hosted by The New York Public Library.

The New York City Youth Poet Laureate program is a voting-themed spoken word poetry competition produced by Urban Word NYC and NYC Votes. The youth Poet Laureate Program is aimed at increasing youth voter turnout by educating NYC students about their power to decide the leadership and direction of the city. 

By providing youth with a platform for creative expression, the YPL program promotes critical thinking of self, and by extension, a critical analysis of one’s role in one’s community and government. The program provides the platform for youth to voice their opinions about their elected representatives and community issues and, through peer-to-peer engagement, encourage those around them to become civically engaged. 

The Winner of the NYC Youth Poet Laureate Program receives a book deal and a platform to advocate for social and political issues they are passionate about. This year, the New York Public Library hosts the "grand slam", as contenders from across the city descend on Bartos Forum for the finale of this powerful and important intersectional competition.  NYC Votes is the voter education program of the NYC Campaign Finance Board.                                          

TeenLIVE programs are sponsored by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.