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WXOX @ Folklife 2025 2025 YOUTH POET LAUREATES 2025 YOUTH POET LAUREATES Evan Wang, 2025 National Youth Poet Laureate Elani Spenser, Roanoake Youth Poet Laureate Emily Hsu, 2025 Edison Youth Poet Laureate Harmony Devoe, 2025 Ntl Youth Poet Laureate Runner-Up Interviewed by Jordan Gray, Max Cash, and Lila Hayden WXOX Next Wave Academy July 2, 2025 At the end of the twentieth century, no longer relegated to the high school English classroom or the printed page, poetry took on a more vibrant public identity. The new generation of poets recognized the power of the craft and its ability to speak truth, and they created spaces where the spoken word was the primary medium. Inspired by previous generations of poets but determined to exert and nurture their own literary identities, these young word slingers asked audiences to reconsider what poetry could be. They incorporated new rhythms and forms and experimented with new modes of presentation that were streetwise and brash but also mellow and evocative. The result was a literary renaissance that continues to grow. Today, poetry is everywhere, and young poets are making it their own. The National Youth Poet Laureate program works with local youth literary arts organizations across the United States to identify and celebrate exceptional youth poets who use their voice to inspire change. Visit The 2025 Folklife Festival Website Find Smithsonian Folkife on Facebook Follow Smithsonian Folklife Festival on Instagram Check out Smithsonian Folklife Festival on YouTube Return to Folklife 2025 Episode List WXOX General Manager: Sharon Scott WXOX Chief Operator: Sean Selby WXOX Next Wave Director: Max $ Selby WXOX Audio Editor: Brian Manley If you have any questions please e-mail nextwave@artxfm.com

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