National Recitation contest for high school students…
California Poets in the Schools (CalPoets) announces Mendocino county’s second Youth Poet Laureate – Frej Barty, a Junior at Mendocino High School. Mendocino county follows the lead of the nation, the state and sister counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, Sonoma and Ventura) in acknowledging a student who has achieved excellence in poetry, allowing them to be a leader for the county in raising the profile of poetry and developing its audience.
Frej Barty was selected from a qualified pool of applicants by a panel of judges. The judging panel included distinguished poets and teachers from throughout the county and we had a few very strong applicants. Frej is an aspiring filmaker, cinematographer, and general multi-hyphenate storyteller who hates that neologism. Defined by finding and giving hope, he is an all around nerd with a love for anything analog—from the Mendocino High School Radio Station KAKX to pinball. He says his bio just keeps shifting, though, because he is still finding a voice and a way of living.
Current Poet Laureate of Point Arena and long-time poet teacher with CalPoets, Blake More is coordinating the YPL program for a national and statewide project with support from California Poets the Schools, Urban Word NYC, the Arts Council of Mendocino County and the Mendocino County Office of Education. When asked about the purpose of the project, More states: “As a lifelong artist and poet, I believe I, like all creators, have a social imperative to share our love of craft with the next generations. It is how we keep our art fresh as well as continue the legacy of self-expression. I am very excited to work with Frej and experience his journey as Mendocino County’s second Youth Poet Laureate.”
In his application, Frej wrote: I will answer these questions the same way I found them; through poetry. The language of those who came before help me understand what it is to be human, and my language helps contextualize this to myself. ‘I value naught more than this romantic readiness’ (Fitzgerald) – the ability to come to these realizations. Naught more than the sight of poets – that manure is only ever flowers (Bradburry). One day, too, my art might give the gift of self-understanding to those who come after me.
Frej’s term as Mendocino County’s Youth Poet Laureate begins February 1, 2024 and continues through June 2026. Within that time, Frej is committed to conduct at least five public appearances/readings/workshops – ideally one within each supervisorial district, virtual or otherwise.
Frej will receive a $500 prize and an opportunity to publish a collection of his poems or spearhead a broader, youth publication opportunity. Schools and community organizations are encouraged to contact Frej (through Blake More, at California Poets in the Schools – blake@arenatechcenter.org) if you are interested in hosting him at a public event – which we encourage you to do.
In Frej’s own words:
The heart of unknown men from the 14th century touched mine. I was reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the words told me that poeple have always been essentially the same, that they have all lived and been one story of which we are now the keening edge but not the end. This and more needs to keep being said, and I plan on saying it.
Frej Barty is an aspiring filmmaker, cinematographer, and general multi-hyphenate storyteller who hates that neologism. He is a weekly voice of the Mendocino High School radio station, KAKX.fm who also livestreams video for both the Mendocino and Fort Bragg school districts.
He is currently the station’s Youtube Director, appears periodically on KZYX&Z and edits the podcast Snap Sessions, which highlights artists and scientists from throughout the area.
Frej also makes films for local people and businesses as a freelancer and for organizations as a volunteer. Through the KAKX/PAMA program he also acts as a Head Projectionist each year for the Mendocino Film Festival. Film is a medium that can teach, change and inspire.
Stay tuned for a virtual poetry reading to celebrate Frej’s appointment as the second ever Mendocino Youth Poet Laureate!
The Mendocino County program is organized by California Poets in the Schools and supported by the Bill Graham Supporting Foundation, with additional in kind support from the Arts Council of Mendocino County and Mendocino County Office of Education.
About California Poets in the Schools
California Poets in the Schools, a non-profit founded in 1964, is one of the nation’s largest literary Artists-in-the-Schools programs. Over one hundred trained, professional Poet-Teachers deliver poetry sessions throughout California to students in K-12 classrooms and a variety of other venues, such as children’s homes, juvenile halls and hospitals. Students are empowered to express their creativity, imagination, and intellectual curiosity through writing, performing and publishing their own poetry.
Since its founding in 1964, CalPoets has inspired over one million students in sixty thousand classrooms to create six million poems. Many of the young people reached through our programs are low-income, rural or second language learners. Student poetry is published in an annual, juried statewide anthology. High-school students from many counties are coached by our Poet-Teachers to compete in tiered Poetry Out Loud competitions from the classroom to the national level. Poet-Teachers gather at yearly symposia for ongoing professional development and community building.
For immediate information, please contact:
Blake More, Mendocino County Area Coordinator California Poets in the School
blake@arenatechcenter.org
Mpits.mcn.org
(415) 283-8204
INTRODUCING AMY LIU MENDOCINO COUNTY’S NEW YOUTH POET LAUREATE
California Poets in the Schools (CalPoets) announces the county’s new Youth Poet Laureate – Amy Liu a Senior at Developing Virtue School. Mendocino follows the lead of the nation, the state and sister counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, Sonoma and Ventura) in acknowledging a student who has achieved excellence in poetry, allowing them to be a leader for the county in raising the profile of poetry and developing its audience.
Amy Liu was selected from a qualified pool of applicants by a panel of judges on February 25, 2023. The judging panel included distinguished poets and teachers from throughout the county. Liu is a senior at Developing Virtue Secondary School. In 2021, Amy was the runner-up of the California Poetry Ourselves competition with her original poem “The Other Half,” and she was recently recognized in the New York Times Student Review Contest for her winning film review of Samsara. Besides poetry and writing, Amy is passionate about environmentalism and music, and she aspires to become a renewable energy engineer.
The YPL competition was extremely competitive, with 9 applicants from schools across Mendocino County. Finalists in the contest were Phoenix Vo – an 11th grade student at Ukiah High School and Phoenix Vo, also in 12th grade at Developing Virtue Girls School. Both of these young poets recited with great skill and understanding, and the judges wanted to make sure they were mentioned to the public as well.
In Amy’s words:
“Poetry is a pair of wings that brings me close to what awes me, yet simultaneously guides me to find awe in what is close to me. Like kaleidoscopes through which I can see the patterns and the chaos of the universe, poems help me make sense of who I am and why I am, by illuminating the reflections of my mind in the world around me. Through poetry, I hope to share the thrill and joy of such an interconnected journey.”
Amy’s Poetry Out Loud videos.
Breakfast: https://youtu.be/k0bqpPstXBM
Burning in the Rain: https://youtu.be/AWDoQSPvbek
History Textbook America: https://youtu.be/mV-xQj-Jy5g
About California Poets in the Schools
California Poets in the Schools, a non-profit founded in 1964, is one of the nation’s largest literary Artists-in-the-Schools programs. Over one hundred trained, professional Poet-Teachers deliver poetry sessions throughout California to students in K-12 classrooms and a variety of other venues, such as children’s homes, juvenile halls and hospitals. Students are empowered to express their creativity, imagination, and intellectual curiosity through writing, performing and publishing their own poetry.
Since its founding in 1964, CalPoets has inspired over one million students in sixty thousand classrooms to create six million poems. Many of the young people reached through our programs are low-income, rural or second language learners. Student poetry is published in an annual, juried statewide anthology. High-school students from many counties are coached by our Poet-Teachers to compete in tiered Poetry Out Loud competitions from the classroom to the national level. Poet-Teachers gather at yearly symposia for ongoing professional development and community building.
For immediate information, please contact:
Blake More, Mendocino County Area Coordinator
California Poets in the Schools
blake@arenatechcenter.org
(415) 283-8204
INTRODUCING Sidney Regelbrugge MENDOCINO COUNTY’S NEW YOUTH POET LAUREATE
California Poets in the Schools (CalPoets) announces the county’s new Youth Poet Laureate – Sidney Regelbrugge, a sophomore at Point Arena High School. Mendocino follows the lead of the nation, the state and sister counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, Sonoma and Ventura) in acknowledging a student who has achieved excellence in poetry, allowing them to be a leader for the county in raising the profile of poetry and developing its audience.
Sidney Regelbrugge was selected from a qualified pool of applicants by a panel of judges on December 8, 2021. The judging panel included distinguished poets and teachers from throughout the county including Blake More, the current (adult) Poet Laureate of Point Arena, CA. Sidney Regelbrugge was the 2021 winner of Point Arena HS Poetry Out Loud recitation contest and the Runner Up for Mendocino County. She also was the Mendocino Writer’s Conference High School Scholarship Winner in the Summer of 2021, where she won 3rd place for her short story “Promises for Another Life” in the YA category. When Sidney is not writing, she slips into the world of music. She is known for her concert piano and saxophone talents, as well as her skill as a multi-sport athlete. She is the daughter of Heather and Dan Regelbrugge of Gualala.
The YPL competition was extremely competitive, with 12 applicants from schools across Mendocino County. Finalists in the contest were Nia Rich – a 12th grade student at Ukiah High School and Amy Lui, also in 12th grade at Developing Virtue Girls School. Both of these young poets write with great skill and understanding, and the judges wanted to make sure they were mentioned to the public as well.
Blake More, current Poet Laureate of Point Arena, and longtime Poet-Teacher and Mendocino County Area Coordinator with CalPoets, states: “’To me, poetry is my heart and soul, the unjudged place where everyone is welcome.’ This statement from Sidney Regelbrugge is one reason I’m so thrilled that she will be our youth poet laureate for Mendocino County. She is a remarkable young woman, and she sees poetry as a way to give voice to those who don’t have one themselves. One of her goals as YPL for Mendocino County is to help youth and others in the community to discover the safety of poetry. It will be an honor to read with her and experience the joy and marvel of others as they witness and are inspired by her grounded intelligence and depth of expression.”
Sidney’s term as Mendocino County’s Youth Poet Laureate begins February 1, 2022 and continues through April 2023. Within that time, Sidney is committed to conduct at least five public appearances/readings/workshops – ideally one within each supervisorial district, however virtual events are likely and encouraged at this time. Sidney will receive a $500 prize and an opportunity to publish a collection of her own poems or spearhead a broader, youth publication opportunity. Schools and community organizations are encouraged to contact Sidney (through Blake More, at California Poets in the Schools – blake@arenatechcenter.org) if you are interested in hosting her at a public event.
In Sidney’s own words:
“I’ve spent my entire life stuck between the forest and the Pacific ocean. I am a fifteen-year-old poet, who also exists in the world of music and mixed literature. I am an only child, who speaks her mind and at times when words are hard to say out loud. Written emotions on a page are my other communication. Poetry is the outsourcing of emotions when everything and everyone in the entire world feels like they are against you. Poetry is the expression of all emotions and feelings, it’s the feeling of love by a wood fire, it’s crying on the front porch watching your first love drive away. Poems are the outbursts of anger when no matter how much you scream no one hears you. To me, poetry is my heart and soul, the unjudged place where everyone is welcome. It gives voices to those who don’t have one themselves. Poetry is home. It’s always safe and has been my home for many years and one I hope to invite others too.”
The Mendocino County program is organized by California Poets in the Schools and supported by the Bill Graham Supporting Foundation, with additional support from the Arts Council of Mendocino County and Mendocino County Office of Education.
Here are Sidney’s Poetry Out Loud videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyfNzqkjVd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovdx05vs0rA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI5mdgqa6vM
Click here to access the 2022 Mendocino Youth Poet Laureate Media Kit including photos: https://www.bmoreyou.net/2022/01/13/mendocino-county-youth-poet-laureate/ or https://tinyurl.com/YPL2022
About California Poets in the Schools
California Poets in the Schools, a non-profit founded in 1964, is one of the nation’s largest literary Artists-in-the-Schools programs. Over one hundred trained, professional Poet-Teachers deliver poetry sessions throughout California to students in K-12 classrooms and a variety of other venues, such as children’s homes, juvenile halls and hospitals. Students are empowered to express their creativity, imagination, and intellectual curiosity through writing, performing and publishing their own poetry.
Since its founding in 1964, CalPoets has inspired over one million students in sixty
thousand classrooms to create six million poems. Many of the young people reached through our programs are low-income, rural or second language learners. Student poetry is published in an annual, juried statewide anthology. High-school students from many counties are coached by our Poet-Teachers to compete in tiered Poetry Out Loud competitions from the classroom to the national level. Poet-Teachers gather at yearly symposia for ongoing professional development and community building.
For immediate information, please contact:
Blake More, Mendocino County Area Coordinator
California Poets in the Schools
blake@arenatechcenter.org
Mpits.mcn.org
(415) 283-8204
Below are results from
MENDOCINO COUNTY 2021 POETRY OUT LOUD FINALS
Poetry Out Loud Winner and finalists for Mendocino County Competition that concluded on Feb 15, 2021.
Mendocino county winner is Amy Lui, Grade 10, Developing Virtual Secondary School
Reciting: Mulberry Fields & Oh Could I Raise the Darken’d Veil .
Our runner up is Sindey Regelbrugge, Grade 9, Point Arena High School
Reciting: My Therapist Wants to Know About My Relationship & Violin.
with Kadance Nelson, Grade 11 of Point Arena Community Charter School, and Heidi Blythe, Grade 9, of DVGS in a tie for third.
Mulberry Fields: https://youtu.be/TJMsC4QttDo
Oh Could I Raise the Darken’d Veil: https://youtu.be/OmXZSLUKcic
Let It Be Forgotten: https://youtu.be/fYEpW01nXuw
1) Sidney reciting #1: https://youtu.be/v2Dje1tRDv4
My Therapist Wants to Know about My Relationship to Work, by Taina Clark
2) Sidney reciting #2: https://youtu.be/l22cf5XTWnE
Violins, by Rowan Ricardo Phillips
1) Heidi reciting #1: Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen:
Poem Text link — https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et-decorum-est
Heidi Blythe, Dulce et Decorum Est, DVGS.MOV
2) Heidi reciting #2, The New Decalogue by Ambrose Bierce:
Poem Text link — https://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/the-new-decalogue/
Heidi Blythe, The New Decalogue, DVGS.MOV
More information on poetry events can be found on the Mendocino Poets in the Schools website.