Alameda County’s newest youth poet laureate is a senior at Fremont’s Irvington High School who says, for her, poetry is a form of dialogue, protest and healing.
Anika Mangla was selected by a panel of judges based on “the content, craft, and voice” of her poetry, according to an announcement from the Alameda County Library system.
“Poetry gives voice to the silenced, turns pain into protest, and transforms personal stories into collective movements. It challenges me not only to reflect, but to act,” said Mangla, who is the author of the forthcoming book of poetry titled “Embers and Flame.”
In addition to Mangla, the library panel also selected recent high school graduate Anjanae Lewis of Dublin as the county’s vice youth poet laureate.
“Poetry inspires me to expand and build what I imagine. It helps me stay rooted in my own inner world while deepening my connection to those around me. It reminds me that every voice, be it loud or soft, matters in the grand symphony of our communities,” said Lewis.
The two winners of the fifth annual laureate competition will serve as the county’s literary ambassadors for the next year and will perform at community events and lead workshops exploring “social justice, cultural awareness and literary excellence,” according to library officials.
They will also be eligible to compete in state and national competitions.
“Through poetry, I’ve learned that even the most intimate emotions can spark wider understanding and that a single line can stir hearts, shift minds, or start conversations that matter,” Mangla said.
In addition to bragging rights and ambassador responsibilities, Mangla also won a MacBook and a suite of Apple products, and her poetry will be featured in the National Poetry Anthology.
Lewis won an iPad and a suite of Apple products.
This year’s finalists were Krishita Kataria of Dublin, Willow Perry of Hayward and Mia Rosales of Newark.