Call for Applications for Youth Poet Laureate
Youth Poet Laureate of Westwood
Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does. — Allen Ginsberg
WHAT DOES THIS POSITION ENTAIL?
The Select Board of the Town of Westwood, Massachusetts established the position of Youth Poet Laureate in February 2023, to work in harmony with the town’s Poet Laureate to promote and celebrate poetry in the Westwood community.
Like the position of Poet Laureate, that of Youth Poet Laureate is largely ceremonial. The individual appointed to be Youth Poet Laureate will have the opportunity to bring poetry to citizens of Westwood at all levels, from the very young to elders. The Youth Poet Laureate must have had some experience writing poetry and a desire to write and share even more poetry, during the year-long term.
Mentored by the town’s Poet Laureate, the Youth Poet Laureate will celebrate the community through the reading of original poems at community occasions such as Westwood Day, government holidays and at library and school poetry programs, including the town-wide poetry reading for National Poetry Month, and the Westwood High School poetry slam. Poems by the Youth Poet Laureate will be posted on the town library’s website, and in posters in the main library and the Islington Branch Library. The Youth Poet Laureate may also represent the town of Westwood at literary events outside the town and at Youth Poet Laureate competitions in New England and nationally.
The term for the first Youth Poet Laureate will begin in June 2025 and run through May of 2026.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO BE WESTWOOD’S YOUTH POET LAUREATE?
To be eligible, you must meet these requirements:
(1) You must be a resident of Westwood for at least one year prior to the time you apply for the position, and if appointed to the position of Youth Poet Laureate, you must still be living in Westwood for your term as Youth Poet Laureate,
or
(2) if a non-resident of Westwood, you must be a student enrolled in a Westwood school for at least a year, in grade 8 through 11 when you apply, and attending a Westwood school by the first day of the 2025-2026 academic year. If appointed to the Position of Youth Poet Laureate, you must continue to be a student in Westwood during your term as Youth Poet Laureate.
You must be in ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade as of the beginning of the
2025-2026 school year
You must display a strong commitment to the community.
You must meet with the Poet Laureate at the library periodically to collaborate on poetry program planning and execution.
You must be willing and able to fulfill the duties of the position enthusiastically.
HOW DO I APPLY? WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS?
All applications must be sent via email, by midnight, Friday, April 21, 2025, to the Westwood Poet Laureate, Beth Swinning, bswinning.wwpoet@gmail.com. Late applications will not be considered.
To apply for this position, prepare and submit the following documents all together at the same time, in the same email transmission. The deadline to apply is midnight on April 21, 2025.
All applications must be in Word .doc, Word .docx or PDF format.
Label your files with your last name, first initial and the designation cover ltr; writ sample; refs as appropriate.
Examples:
Jones, S coverltr
Jones, S writ sample
Jones, S refs
1. A cover letter (no more than one page long) with your name; postal address; email address; phone number; the name of the school where you will be enrolled as of 9/1/2025; a paragraph or two stating your interest and your experience to date in writing and studying poetry, as well as your reasons for applying for this position; the following statement: “I am the sole author of the cover letter contents and all poems in my writing sample.”
2. A writing sample of no more than five pages of your original poetry, with your name on each page after the poem, one poem to a page,12 pt. type, Times New Roman or Arial typeface. Number the pages of your writing sample at the bottom left, center or right.
The poems should be single spaced except for stanza breaks, and the words arranged on the page as you would want them to appear in a magazine or book.
3. The names and contact phone numbers and email addresses for two references (outside of your family), at least one of whom is familiar with your poetry. The other reference should be qualified to comment specifically on your contributions to the community, your academic work outside of creative writing, and your ability to follow through on projects. Be sure to let your references know you are providing their names and contact information in your application.
4. All your documents must be submitted as attachments in PDF or Word (.doc or .docx) format and transmitted by email to bswinning.wwpoet@gmail.com
The Youth Poet Laureate selection committee expects to make a recommendation to the Select Board on the choice of candidate by the beginning of May.
Questions? Email Poet Laureate Beth Swinning bswinning.wwpoet@gmail.com