The South Florida Youth Poet Laureate competition is a collaboration between the Jason Taylor Foundation’s Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, and Urban Word, a New York-based literary arts education and youth development organization. Taylor is now the fourth ever winner of the Youth Poet Laureate.

An esteemed panel of educators, authors, poets and community professionals meticulously read through the largest submission pool since the inception of the South Florida Youth Poet Laureate program that included a portfolio of poetry and each student’s résumé. At the end of the process, one Youth Poet Laureate and two Youth Poet Ambassadors were selected. The Ambassadors are Jennifer Chiou, currently dual enrolled at Westglades Middle School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Sienna Median, a senior at Fort Pierce Central High School.

             “The Youth Poet Laureate program truly celebrates our students and their relationship with the written word,” said Seth Levit, Executive Director of the Jason Taylor Foundation. “The quality of writing, the depth of thought, and the overall caliber of the submissions continues to grow each and every year. We congratulate Taylor, Jennifer, Sienna and all of this year’s talented participants.”

 As Youth Poet Laureate, Taylor will work with the Jason Taylor Foundation and Urban Word to help foster community and social awareness through her poetry. In addition to the recognition and philanthropic and performance opportunities, the South Florida Youth Poet Laureate book release party and Teen Open Mic will take place on Wednesday, March 20 at studioblu, located at 1575 Northpark Drive, Weston from 5-7 PM.

 About the Jason Taylor Foundation

In July 2004, Miami Dolphins legendary Defensive End, Jason Taylor, established the Jason Taylor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Foundation’s mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.

Since opening its doors, the Jason Taylor Foundation has impacted tens of thousands of children through innovative programming including The Jason Taylor Reading Room, Cool Gear for the School Year, the Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center, Jason Taylor Scholars and the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, among others. For more information on the Jason Taylor Foundation, please visit www.JasonTaylorFoundation.org or follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasontaylorfoundation or Twitter:  www.twitter.com/@jtfoundation99 or www.twitter.com/@bluapplepoetry.

-JTF-