Los Angeles County
Poetry Out Loud
The Los Angeles County Office of Education will not participate in the national Poetry Out Loud program for the 2025-26 school year. We appreciate your dedication to our students and their love for poetry. We will continue to share news about poetry programs in the County and state. Please see the County and state poetry opportunities below.
Get Lit: If I Awaken In Los Angeles Poetry Contest
WHAT IS GET LIT?
Get Lit - Words Ignite inspires literacy, wellness, creativity and workforce development for young people through Spoken Word poetry and media. Get Lit's award-winning performance troupe of youth poets have performed at the United Nations, Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and White House — to name a few! Over half of the Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureates have been Get Lit Poets. They have over 300 million views on social media.
ABOUT THE ALBUM
If I Awaken in Los Angeles is a love letter to Los Angeles.
The album tells the story of Los Angeles communities like Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, Leimert Park, South LA, Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo and more. Featuring poetry from renowned artists, including Luis Rodriguez, Dante Basco, Joy Harjo and more, and featuring music from Grammy Award-winning Derrick Hodge.
Now we ask: Tell us about YOUR LA!
Deadline to get poems and a video reading into Universe for the If I Awaken competition is Friday, November 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT. There are 20 student prizes — 10 by popular vote, 10 by judges vote — and 10 teacher prizes, all by judges' vote (teachers, only the winning poem videos will be shared). Win $1,000! For you and your students. Open to 6th-12th grade students. There is a separate Teachers contest for teachers of 6th-12th grade students.
See the IIAILA Teacher Toolkit for all the details!
Learn more at getlit.org.
Downbeat 720: Open Mic for Teens
Downbeat 720 is L.A.'s premier open stage for teens. This is where teen artists speak their truth through poetry, music, comedy and more. Your stage. Your voice. Your moment. Come perform or just feel the energy — all are welcome.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
Sign-up at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:20 p.m.
The Miles Memorial Playhouse at 1130 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Directing Change: Monthly Hope and Justice Art and Film Contest
Entries are accepted on a monthly basis and are due the last day of the month at midnight. Youth can share how they find hope, ways they cope with tough times and complex feelings, and what changes they hope to see in their communities. All formats accepted: visual art, films, poetry, original song, PSA's, spoken word, TikToks and more! Youth can submit to the Hope, Justice or a monthly prompt that changes every month. Win up to $300 in Amazon gift cards! Consider submitting to the 'What I Wish My Parent's Knew' prompt that is currently accepting submissions until January 2026.
Download fliers below:
Inaugural California Teen Poet Laureate Program
The California Teen Poet Laureate is a new position established under California law. This young artist will be an advocate for poetry in the Golden State and will represent the state and the California Arts Council at events throughout their two-year term.
To be considered, you must be a teen aged poet (ages 13-19, inclusive) living in California and submit an application to the California Arts Council by November 30, 2025. The applications will be reviewed by a panel of three literary experts who will submit finalists to the Governor. The Governor will then appoint California's First Teen Poet Laureate!
Visit capoetlaureate.org/teen
California Poetry Out Loud
For more information on the California Poetry Out Loud program and how to participate, visit www.capoetryoutloud.org/.