The New York City Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify young writers and leaders committed to creating change through civic engagement and poetic excellence.

This fall, 13 finalists were selected from a pool of applications to participate in workshops hosted at Federal Hall. The paid fellowship program was led by Urban Word NYC’s Poet-in-Residence, Drew Drake. After six weeks of Fellowship workshops, all 13 finalists showcased their poems in Federal Hall’s Grand Rotunda and competed for the title of the NYC Youth Poet Laureate. The winner of the competition and 2023’s NYC Youth Poet Laureate is Stephanie Pacheco.

All Finalists also have the opportunity to join in a paid Spring Production of the work created during this fellowship in partnership with Federal Hall and the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy.