Celebrate Berkeley's poetic legacy and present with Berkeley’s Poets Laureate!
Join us for a poetry reading and conversation with Aya de León (Berkeley Poet Laureate), Julia Segre (Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate), and Serena Griffin (Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate).
This reading will take place at the Central Branch (5th Floor) on Monday, May 13th at 6pm. (It was rescheduled from April 22nd.)
ABOUT THE POETS
2024-2025 Berkeley Poet Laureate, Aya de León (she/her/ella) is a poet and the author of ten novels. A graduate of Berkeley High School, she directs the Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley. Aya's work has appeared in various venues, including Harper’s Bazaar, Ebony, Def Poetry, and she was recently interviewed in the New York Times. In spring 2022, she organized an online conference entitled Black Literature vs. the Climate Emergency.
Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate 2024, Julia Segrè (she/her) is a 16 year-old poet and athlete at Berkeley High. She started writing in her 7th grade English class, as part of her school's Oratorical Fest. Since then, she has been writing as a way to explore topics such as femininity, identity, folktales, and the way words shape every corner of our community. Through spoken word, she hopes to inspire the next generation to continue to create change through vulnerability. She served as the Alameda County co-Vice Youth Poet Laureate in 2022 and currently serves on SPOKES, the youth advisory board for Youth Speaks. When not writing, you can find her playing or coaching Ultimate Frisbee, hiking, or playing guitar.
Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate 2024, Serena Griffin (she/her) is a junior at Saint Mary's College High School. She is a writer of various forms, dedicated to amplifying her voice in a way that reflects and celebrates unique stories, struggles, and triumphs. Through her creations, Serena hopes to inspire feelings of understanding and connection that work to uplift and empower. She is a soon to be two-time published author who is excited to continue her journey of using words to create art!
Learn more about the Berkeley Poet Laureate and Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate programs.