Congrats to Jovina Zion Pradeep and Ashwika Jani
On August 6, Alameda County Library announced the winners of the 2024 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition. Now in its fourth year, the annual competition for Alameda County teens ages 13-18 takes place during National Poetry Month in April. The winners of the 2024 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition are Jovina Zion Pradeep and Ashwika Jani, both of Fremont.
Pradeep, the 2024 Youth Poet Laureate, is a writer, photographer and editor at Blossomer Literary Magazine, a youth-center environmental magazine.
Jani, the 2024 Youth Poet Vice-Laureate, is a music writer and activist for underserved populations in healthcare and education. She uses her voice to uplift others and bring attention to issues impacting her community.
This year’s finalists include: J.A., Fern Biswas, Eleanor Bleharski.
The Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition celebrates teen voices and civic engagement. The number of entries continues to rise. Alameda County Library received 54 submissions this year, an increase from last year’s record-breaking year of 52 entries.
This year’s winners were selected by a panel of judges from the Bay Area spoken word, education, and restorative justice communities, and were judged based on the content, craft and voice of their work. The winners’ names were announced during an awards ceremony on Friday, August 2 at REACH Ashland Youth Center.
“I am truly moved by all the talented youth poets who participated in this year’s competition. When we provide teens with a platform for creative and authentic expression, they can harness the power of poetry to inspire collective civic engagement that uplifts our communities,” said Acting County Librarian Deb Sica.
From now through August 2025, Pradeep and Jani will serve as ambassadors to inspire civic engagement, social justice, cultural awareness and literary excellence among young people in Alameda County. As this year’s Laureate, Pradeep will receive a MacBook and a suite of Apple products. Pradeep’s poetry will be featured in the National Poetry Anthology along with Laureates across the country. Jani will receive an iPad and a suite of Apple products.
“Poems are sculptures of breath, balms that soothe the soul, and popsicles of words that melt the perspectives of communities. Out of all forms of literary expression, poetry inspires me the most because it offers a channel for humanity to be vulnerable—to forge dreams and reflections that ignite social change,” said Pradeep.
“Poetry is a means to explore the limits of language, and to find the beauty in breaking and making rules as I see fit to tell my story. Through its ability to become a vessel for both catharsis and change, poetry inspires me through providing perspective on the complexity of life,” said Jani.
Winners and finalists will be invited to perform at public events year-round. Winners will also be able to compete in the California and Regional Youth Poet Laureate competitions. Past Alameda County Youth Poet Laureates have advanced to the state, regional and national competitions.
Zoe Dorado, the inaugural Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate from Castro Valley, won the 2024 West Regional competition and now serves as the 2024 West Regional Youth Poet Laureate. Dorado competed in the National Youth Poet Laureate competition in April and placed runner-up. Brian Guan, the 2023 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate from Dublin, placed runner-up in the 2024 West Regional Youth Poet Laureate competition. Sunwoo Eom, the 2023 Alameda County Youth Poet Vice-Laureate from Albany, placed as a finalist in the 2024 California Youth Poet Laureate competition, and Yamini Jain, the 2022 Alameda County Co-Youth Poet Laureate from Fremont also placed as a finalist in the California Youth Poet Laureate competition in 2023.
Alameda County Library thanks this year’s judges, Urban Word and Alameda County Library Foundation for their partnership and support. For more information about the Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition, visit aclibrary.org/youth-poet/.
