AIA - Bergen Youth Poet Laureate Program

The National Youth Poet Laureate Program, an initiative of Urban Word, celebrates our
nation’s top poets who are committed to artistic excellence, civic engagement and social
impact. Founded in New York City in 2008, the Youth Poet Laureate Program partners
with local and national literary arts organizations across the country to elevate youth
voices at the forefront of social change. Program partners and supporters include the
Academy of American Poets, the Library of Congress, the Poetry Foundation, the Ford
Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Youth Poets Laureate have
touched every media outlet and major stage in the country, including at the White House
and on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. To learn more about our work or to start a program
in your region, please visit www.youthlaureate.org.​

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The Bergen County Youth Poet Laureate Program was founded in 2025 by Artrepreneurship Initiative Alliance (AIA) co-founder Emily Tong, a poet and writer recognized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Palette Poetry, The Harvard Advocate, Silk & Ink, Hollins University, The Live Poets' Society of NJ, and the Poetry Society of Virginia.​