Poetry: A voice for the voteless

Learn more aboutCity of Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate collaboration with Vote That Jawn’s June 3 event below. 

By Hannah Gerber

From May 27-July 2, 2026 ArtPhilly is hosting a citywide and multi-disciplinary art festival in conjunction with the nation’s 250 anniversary celebration called What Now. Vote that Jawn will be holding an event on June 3 focusing on amplifying youth voters through performances and workshops.

One of the partners will be past and present City of Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate. Rashawn Dorsey, the current laureate,will perform one of his poems. Poems and music from past Youth Poets Laureate will also be featured. 

Dorsey, the current laureate, is a senior at Academy at Palumbo High School. When awarded with this honor, he shared that he was most excited for “getting to be a voice for other young people who aren’t always given the chance to speak for themselves. I want to make sure my peers know they are not alone.” 

Yona Yurwit, a librarian at the Free Library of Philadelphia, is on the committee that chooses the youth poet laureate, as well as liaison connecting the laureates to opportunities where they can perform. . 

Yurit said she thinks that part of the reason students can sometimes get disengaged from their education is because “it’s so divorced from any of the things they care about or like.” Strong creative writing or poetry programs allow students to express themselves by sharing the things they are passionate about. 

“Everybody likes to talk about how romantic it is that the youth are our future. But they need to have opportunities to practice those leadership skills, otherwise by the time they are adults, they won’t be leaders,” Yurit shared, in talking about the practical effects of adults amplifying youth voices. 

Yurit encourages teens to look for opportunities like the Youth Poet Laureate, where teens are rewarded for their passion and dedication. She shared, “It’s been 15 years of people making [teens] feel like they don’t or they can’t or they shouldn’t,” but there are opportunities where youth can their voice heard.

She continued, “[teens] have a lot to say about [injustices] so they’re aware of social issues. However most teens cannot vote. Most teens have very little influence even over their own families.” Participating civically through art and writing is a way that students can stay engaged with social issues until they can vote. 

Hear Dorsey share what social issues he is passionate about when he performs his poetry at What Now on June 3 at 6 p.m.