The Youth Poetry Ambassador program establishes a youth poetry advocate position for a Rhode Island high school student (grades 9-12). This initiative aims to bring poetry directly to our state’s youth and inspire young people through example.
Much like the State Poet Laureate affirms Rhode Island’s support of poetry, the Youth Poetry Ambassador validates and supports the creative potential of our young people. A Deputy Youth Poetry Ambassador will also be selected to assist with in-state duties as needed. The Youth Poetry Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador will be chosen by RI Poet Laureate Emeritus Tina Cane.
Opportunities for the Selected Youth Poetry Ambassador (contingent upon student’s ability and availability):
- $500 cash prize for the Youth Poetry Ambassador and $250 for the Deputy Ambassador
- Their poetry featured through Poetry in Motion, RI on RIPTA buses statewide
- Their poetry published in Sound and Vision, a weekly feature curated by Tina Cane in The Providence Eye.
- An opportunity to read for the Poetry is Bread distance reading series
- Participation in virtual and/or in-person school visits, workshops, and other public readings or speaking engagements
Rhode Island Poet Laureate Tina Cane and the Rhode Island Center for the Book have named Josselyn Wolf, a student at Moses Brown School, as the 2026 Youth Poetry Ambassador and Angel Cruz, a student at Providence Career and Technical Academy, as the Deputy Youth Poetry Ambassador.
Honorable Mentions go to Jerely Castillo (Juanita Sanchez High School), Mia Malo (Mt. Hope High School), and Andrew Taxiarchos (Barrington High School).
Josselyn says, “I am deeply excited to serve as the Youth Poetry Ambassador of Rhode Island. I hope to prove that poetry is not a dead language but is fundamentally alive. As our generation confronts planetary and societal instability, poetry reunites us with the most elemental parts of ourselves and endures as one of the most ancient catalysts for change.
Angel adds, “I am grateful and honored to have been selected as the Deputy Rhode Island Youth Poetry Ambassador. Being chosen for this position is still surreal, especially after the moments of self-doubt that naturally came with submitting my application. Throughout that time, I was continually reminded of the encouragement and support I receive from my friends, family, and school staff. Support that affirmed not only my skills, but my character and my ability to create meaningful change.”
The launch and reading celebration will take place at the State House Library on February 27 at 5:30 PM, featuring readings from the new ambassadors, finalists, outgoing ambassadors, and other arts advocates.
Past Youth Poetry Ambassadors
2025 Youth Poetry Ambassador Robin Linden and Deputy Youth Poetry Ambassador Julia Yakirevich
2024 Youth Poetry Ambassador Seoyon Kim
2023 Youth Poetry Ambassador Natasha Connolly
2022 Youth Poetry Ambassadors Lourdes Nicolella and Adi Gamache
2020/21 Youth Poetry Ambassador Halima Ibrahim
2019 Youth Poetry Ambassador Catherine Sawoski
2018 Youth Poetry Ambassador Moira Flath