ONCE AGAIN THIS SPRING, The Dialect Poets and YPL Ambassadors in conjunction with our family at Words Beats & Life made a powerful one-day residencies at Montpelier House Museum in Laurel, Maryland as part of their, "Fighting Destiny Tour". 

FORT WASHINGTON'S OWN SANIYA PEARSON!

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OUR 2024 YPL has been busier than any other Youth Poet Laureate before her - touching hearts & minds across the DMV! Saniya has performed at gala events for the Library of Congress, the National Center for Children and Families, The Community Foundation, and at the official ribbon cutting for Bowie State University’s new multi-million dollar Martin Luther King Jr. Communications Center.

Marissa recently teamed up with 2022 YPL Imani West to shoot & edit a video for Imani's original poem titled, "My Hair My Crown" - a short film that follows Imani as she explores her hair journey through the years & how her hair affects how she is perceived by the world around her. The video features Poetry and interviews recorded at the beautiful Wellspring Manor Spa and at Natural Touch Hair Studios in Upper Marlboro.

Check out the video below!

Youth Poets

PAST LAUREATES

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Precious Foreman (2023) 

Imani West (2022) Sainey Ceesay (2021) Marissa Michel (2020) Mi'Jan Credle (2019) 

                         Michaela Lacy (2018) Samantha Jackson (2017) and Dominique Holder (2016)

SAINEY IN ACTION!

of Prince George's County

GRATITUDE GOES OUT to our 2022 YPL Imani West for the leadership, grace & creativity shown throughout her laureateship, touching hearts & minds everywhere from community centers to the Kennedy Center! Her soft-spoken yet magnetic performances has inspired hundreds across the DMV, even earning herself an internship at The White House! Way to go, Imani!

SAINEY CEESAY, OUR 2021 YPL, has continued making her mark beyond her Laureateship by lending her voice for multiple virtual events & speaking engagements.  She was recently commissioned to write and perform an original poem dedicated to the grand opening of the new Hyattsville Library and absolutely blew everyone away!  Everyone loved her poem so much that after  her standing ovation, the PGCMLS official asked for a copy of the poem to frame in the Library's front entrance - now THAT'S how to leave an impression!

One Youth Poet Laureate. Four Ambassadors.  Five youth poets who are paving the way to the future.

LEARN MORE

The Inaugural Montgomery County, Maryland

Youth Poet Laureate

"Sasa" Aakil

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO OUR NEW YOUTH POET AMBASSADORS

ANGIE CASTELLANO - New Carrollton

ARIANNA BOSLEY - Brandywine

CHIMWEKELE OKORO - Upper Marlboro

DE'JUAN OUZTS-WILLIAMS - Capital Heights

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NOW THE WORK BEGINS as our YPL & Ambassadors begin traveling the county sharing the stage with county officials at festivals, town hall meetings and other community events in need of a youth perspective.  This is the first step to a professional career as a writer & public speaker - any organizations interested in booking any of our youth poets for  any functions, please contact Patrick Washington at 301 237 6684 or Neville Adams at 240 426 2629

SANIYA PEARSON - THE 2024 PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY YOUTH POET LAUREATE

THE YOUNG POETS were especially interested in Montpelier's "Hidden Spaces" presentation, which explores the side entrances, passageways & sleeping areas for the enslaved which were tucked away throughout the mansion. 
WE ALSO LEARNED the stories of resilience & resistance from our people - We learned at every year, there were at least 30 instances of runaway slaves from Montpelier.  

AFTER EACH TOUR, everyone went exploring on their own, some sat outside in the courtyard, some stayed inside & asked questions of our guides, others walked along the trail surrounding the property - writing & reflecting.
 

Saniya (Poetry S.A.P.) Pearson is the 2024 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate and a 16-year-old student in Central High's International Baccalaureate program. Throughout these past few years, she has apprenticed at Words, Beats, and Life (WBL) non-profit arts organization, performing everywhere from the University of Wisconsin's Passing the Mic Public Showcase, to the Kennedy Center for the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album, to San Francisco as part of the DMV Slam Team to compete in the Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival. Most recently, Saniya had the pleasure of delivering a socially conscious piece at the Inaugural Legislative Day for the Prince George's County executive administration, school board, civic leaders, and elected officials. Saniya has a passion for advocacy on climate change, economic equality, mental health, legal justice equity, and reform.
  Saniya has a passion for community service. Often, she collaborates with the Green Team, an environmental-oriented club at her school, where they brainstorm and execute new ideas to improve their community. From trash clean-ups to planning and revamping the school’s greenhouse, they made sure to leave their impact on the world. She was their main spokesperson during morning announcements in 2022, creating what is now known as Green Team News. As a result of their hard work, they were one of the Prince George’s County Public Schools winners of the 2022 Waste Division and Recycling Awards. At Central, she tutored and assisted teachers in her classes, particularly Geometry (2022-23) and Algebra 2 (2023). Many students she’s tutored have better understood the subject and improved their grades. Due to her efforts, she has accumulated over 30 service learning hours. She also assists in her church, Nothing But The T.R.U.T.H. Ministries, singing during praise and worship and teaching children's church. 

WE ARE INTERNATIONAL! Here, our 2019 & 2021 Prince George's Laureates are interviewed by BBC News about The Amanda Gorman Effect

​​Meet the Ambassadors

ALSO, TO COMMEMORATE the 100th birthday of the iconic author, playwright & social scientist, James Baldwin, Marissa joined our Dialect poets in celebrating him by creating a video poem, titled, "ECHOES" - combining scenes of life, love and hope in his honor... Enjoy!

Her poetry performance begins at 39:00

The Inaugural Arlington County, Virginia

Youth Poet Laureate

Amasa Maleski

POETS, EMCEES & CREATIVE WRITERS AGES 13 TO 19, here is your springboard to launching a career in creative writing, performance poetry & community activism! We are searching for youth leaders who are committed to civic and community engagement & promoting change through the arts. We also partner with various county entities & non profits to create opportunities for our young artists. for more info, Contact us at dialectofpgcounty@gmail.com

YPL PROGRAMS ARE SPROUTING EVERYWHERE! In his new role as Poetry Director for Words Beats & Life, Patrick Washington is helping to craft new Laureates for other areas outside of Prince George's County.  Let's welcome these new young leaders!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17TH @ HILLCREST HEIGHTS BRANCH LIBRARY

TEENTOBER CELEBRATION

Featuring DJ Frank & an Open Mic

4pm -5:30pm

MEET THE 2024​PRINCE GEORGE'S​

COUNTY

YOUTH POET 

LAUREATE!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for two upcoming events featuring our DIALECT Youth Poets!

OUR 2020 COUNTY YOUTH POET LAUREATE, MARISSA MICHEL, has proven herself to be a multi-layered artist, moving from poetry to digital art, and now to FILMAKING! 

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5TH @ NEW CARROLLTON BRANCH LIBRARY

FRESH VOICES YOUTH OPEN MIC

Featuring Saniya Pearson

4pm - 5:30pm