Long Beach Youth Poets Take the Stage: 2025 Youth Poet Laureate Finals Set for May 17
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Above: Outgoing 2024 Youth Poet Laureate Helena Donato-Sapp presents at a previous Long Beach City Council Meeting.

Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach and Long Beach Forward, and with support from Urban Word NYC, is proud to present the 2025 Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) Finals Ceremony, taking place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.).

"Our young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they're the truth-tellers, visionaries and changemakers of today," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "The Youth Poet Laureate program gives them the stage to speak powerfully and lead boldly. Long Beach is proud to celebrate and uplift these brilliant young voices."

During the Finals Ceremony, hosted by acclaimed Long Beach poet and YPL Fellow Nancy Lynée Woo, local finalists will perform original work as they compete for the title of 2025 Youth Poet Laureate and one of four Youth Poet Ambassador spots. A distinguished panel of judges—Marcus Omari, Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo and Brian Sonia-Wallace—will evaluate performances and announce the 2025–26 Youth Poet Laureate cohort at the event's conclusion.

The selected top Poet Laureate will receive a $1,500 scholarship and the four Poet Ambassadors will each receive a $500 scholarship. In addition to scholarship support, the newly selected cohort will gain access to mentorship, creative workshops, public readings and a full year of leadership development from May 2025 through April 2026.

"Since launching the Youth Poet Laureate program in Long Beach, we've witnessed firsthand the remarkable talent, leadership, and vision of our local youth. Their words move us, challenge us, and remind us of the power of storytelling," said Library Director Cathy De Leon. "We look forward to celebrating this next group of young poets as they take the stage and share their voices with the city."

The ten finalists for this year's Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program include:
  • Ezequiel Correa (he/him), age 17, lives in Eastside Long Beach with his cat, Niko. A chatty and quirky teen, he is passionate about collecting oddities, critiquing literature, and advocating for literacy and equitable access to information. When he is not working part-time, he dedicates himself to tackling literacy disparities and promoting a more accessible community network.
  • Liam "Lee" Balmeo (they/them), age 15, is a sophomore at Millikan High School and an award-winning youth poet. Committed to service and direct-impact action, Lee uses poetry to share personal and collective experiences, blending traditional and modern styles to address pressing issues. They have been nationally and internationally recognized by The Poetry Society, Social Justice Initiative and WriteCause and served as the 2024–2025 Youth Poet Ambassador of Long Beach.
  • Jorany Chim (she/her), age 16, is a junior at Millikan High School who uses writing to explore her emotions and express her inner voice. Though she doesn't consider herself an artist, her work reflects a deep passion and desire to connect through vulnerability. Jorany hopes her writing will serve as a lasting legacy of the spirit she continues to discover and share.
  • Maddox Harris (he/him), age 17, is a senior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and a soulful poet who finds joy in life's simple pleasures. Inspired by meaningful connections with family and friends, he discovered poetry two years ago as a powerful outlet for his emotions and creativity. Maddox embraces each moment with warmth, passion and authenticity.
  • Eden Gonzalez (she/her), age 13, is an 8th grader at Tincher Preparatory School and a Long Beach-based poet and writer who loves to travel. Her work explores themes like identity, self-growth and mental health, with her poem "Light Sparks" published in the Creative Communications Anthology. A former Project Lit President and current W.E.B. Leader, Eden has received national recognition. Outside of writing, she enjoys thrifting, '70s music and reading and is currently working on two fiction novels and a poetry chapbook.
  • Adele Odetta (she/her), age 15, is a freshman at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and a proud activist, artist and change-maker. She has been involved with the Green Schools Campaign, volunteered at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, supported YMCA book drives, and interned at a local creative business. Passionate about reading, writing, performing and creating art, Adele recently earned second place in her school's poetry slam and was honored for excellence in English Language Arts.
  • Macuilquiahuitl Ixeh (he/him), age 17, is a junior at Blue Ridge Academy and a multi-talented artist who has explored various creative forms and styles. Raised by artistically and intellectually driven parents, he's passionate about expanding his mind while empowering his community. With a strong foundation and deep curiosity, he shows great promise in whichever artistic path he pursues.
  • Ajala Sen (she/her), age 16, is a sophomore at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and a passionate poet, songwriter, and musician. She taught herself guitar at five and percussion at nine, and now leads the rock band Sugar Skulls as vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist. Her original songs and poetry tackle social issues and aim to inspire change. In February 2025, she performed at the Mayor's State of the City, celebrating Long Beach's diversity through music.
  • Ruby Giles (she/her), age 16, is a sophomore at Blue Ridge Academy with a love for English and history. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, blogging, creating music with her sister, knitting and playing guitar. Despite facing hardships, Ruby finds joy in life and writes about mental health, romance, personal challenges and her health conditions.
  • Shawna Brief (she/her), age 17, is a junior at Millikan High School and a proud Long Beach native. Passionate about the arts, she aspires to pursue a career in the music industry. Shawna, who was crowned Miss Teen Long Beach in November 2024, also coaches gymnastics at the YMCA and works with the Long Beach Community Action Team at service events.

The YPL program celebrates the vibrant voices of Long Beach teens who lead with language, courage and purpose and uplifts young writers who use poetry and spoken word as tools for civic engagement and social change. These youth leaders embody the power of expression and amplify the stories of their communities.

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Launched nationally in 2008 by Urban Word NYC, the Youth Poet Laureate initiative now flourishes in more than 70 cities across the country. Long Beach proudly joined this national movement in 2023, with Wilson High School's Claire Beeli named the city's first Youth Poet Laureate. The 2024 YPL cohort—featuring Youth Poet Laureate Helena Donato-Sapp and Youth Poet Ambassadors Sammantha Martinez, Liam "Lee" Balmeo, Jorany Chim, Ajala Sen, and Ezequiel Correa—has represented Long Beach in citywide workshops, public performances, and regional literary events.

"It was a real honor to be named the city's Youth Poet Laureate this past year. I have spoken poetry all over the world now and been published in books, journals, and magazines. I was honored to be named a Los Angeles County YPL Ambassador this year, as well as a Runner-Up for the YPL of the entire Western Region of the U.S. I will always be grateful to Long Beach for giving me a venue to speak truth to power as a young poet," shared Helena Donato-Sapp, outgoing 2024 Youth Poet Laureate.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and cheer on Long Beach's next generation of poetic changemakers. For more information, visit the Long Beach Public Library 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.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Public Library visit www.lbpl.org and follow @lbcitylibrary on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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