In a virtual gala held on April 17, 2021, Oceana High School student Madeleine Hur, 16, was named the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of the City of Daly City and became the first youth poet laureate in San Mateo County.
DCPLA launched the Daly City Youth Poet Laureate program in October, the first such program in all of San Mateo County. In partnership with the National Youth Poet Laureate Program by Urban Word and Daly City Public Library, the program celebrates teen poets ages 13-18 who live or attend school in Daly City, and exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, leadership, and social justice. “Although it is a little bit intimidating to be the first youth poet laureate in San Mateo County, I now know that this is something I can do to contribute to the various movements for change and equality, and it is extremely empowering,” Hur said. Hur also won a $5,000 award sponsored by the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.
She will represent Daly City at community events between May 2021 and May 2022, serving as an ambassador and champion of the literary arts, community engagement, and youth empowerment. In addition to poetry, Hur is interested in politics and the legislative process and is involved in student government. She currently serves as a Student Trustee for the Jefferson Union High School District. “The judges unanimously chose [Hur] for [her] strong poetic voice, performance experience, and service to the community,” according to San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto who announced the winner and first runner-up. “This program reflects the forward-thinking and innovation of DCPLA members,” said Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo during the event. Judges included Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, Daly City librarian Karen Engle, Bayshore Elementary School teacher Luisa Santos, Westmoor High School teacher Joal Truong-Vargas, and DCPLA Director and Past President Rosie Tejada.
First runner-up Jescent Marcelino is 15 years old and a student at Jefferson High School. Marcelino immigrated from the Philippines just over a year ago and credits poetry and role models Vice President Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman for helping her find her voice. Competition finalists included Chloe Chou, a 13-year-old author; 17-year-old Briana Leung who is a storyteller and community artist; Iris Li, a 15-year-old environmental activist; 17-year-old Allen Mata who is the Public Relations Officer of his school’s Social Justice Club and helps educate his peers about voting; 16-year-old Lindsay Pagaduan who is a member of the Junior Statesmen of America which helps students to “become involved in civics and responsible leadership”; Nathaly Perez, an immigrant from El Salvador who volunteers at an elderly care home; 13-year-old Hanna Docampo Pham who is a library advocate; and 15-year-old Eva Pradhan who wishes to establish a poetry club to foster community building.
The DCPLA Youth Poet Laureate program was spearheaded by Victoria Maier Magbilang, Executive Director of the DCPLA. The event on Saturday also celebrated DCPLA’s 10th anniversary. Since 2011, DCPLA has raised over $265,000 for the Daly City libraries which serve Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma residents.
“Libraries create infinite resources for our communities. They help us thrive. DCPLA helps libraries by creating fundraising initiatives,” said Library Board of Trustees President Angella Logarta.
More importantly, according to DCPLA Board Member and event co-chair Patricia Devera, “in addition to connecting people to information, libraries connect people to people. They are safe havens for kids when schools are not in session… [they] enable older adults to stay engaged in a digital world… [and they keep those who are] homebound connected to the larger community.”
