City of Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester Cultural Development Division announced Monday the search for the next Worcester Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate.

The municipality is seeking poets with a significant connection to the Worcester community to serve multi-year appointments. 

The Poet Laureate will serve a three-year term, from January 2026 through December 2028, and the Youth Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term, from January 2026 through December 2027. The application is open until Oct. 27, 2025. 

The Poets Laureate will serve as ambassadors of Worcester’s literary arts, using poetry to promote cultural awareness, civic engagement, and creative expression throughout the community. This is a unique opportunity for local poets to share their work publicly, lead community-based literary programming, and represent the City of Worcester at special events and public ceremonies.

The Youth Poet Laureate role is open to youth ages 13-19 as of Jan. 1, 2026, that have a deep connection to Worcester and are passionate about telling their story, uplifting youth, and sharing youth experiences. The Youth Poet Laureate will receive an annual honorarium of $500 dollars and a one-time $2,500 dollar scholarship. 

“Serving as the Worcester Youth Poet Laureate has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life,” said current Youth Poet Laureate Serenity Jackson. “I’ve had the opportunity to connect with artists, activists and community leaders who have inspired me and helped me grow by encouraging me to use my voice with purpose, building relationships and learning to step into every room with confidence.”

The Poet Laureate will serve as a mentor to the Youth Poet Laureate, participate in literary workshops and present four or more public readings annually. The Poet Laureate will receive a $1,500 annual honorarium.

“It has been an honor to use poetry as a bridge between people, neighborhoods and generations,” said current Worcester Poet Laureate Oliver De la Paz. “Mentoring young poets and seeing their voices rise reminded me why I write in the first place. The city is listening. Youth are listening. And their voices carry power when they stay curious, trust their truth and let words lead them.”

Those who are interested in applying or nominating a qualified candidate are encouraged to join a virtual Poet Laureate Writing Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 pm. During this workshop, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions, learn about the program, and review the application process with the current Worcester Poets Laureate and the Cultural Development staff.

Register for this Zoom workshop at  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m31a2r0OQ1C8GrXI1hQEEg. 

All nominations and applications must be submitted by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2025. 

More on the City of Worcester Poets Laureate program, including program guidelines and a link to the current applications, can be found at WorcesterMA.gov/Cultural-Development/Poet.