Poet laureates have long been appointed as a 'voice for the people', sharing their words and creativity as an extension of the community during times of prosperity and difficulty. In recent years, poetry has made a resurgence in the mainstream by the accessibility of social media, climbing best sellers lists, and finding younger audiences looking for an outlet to express their creativity.

Join us for this virtual talk with two Bay Area poets, the 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Myra Estrada and 2016 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Arlene Biala! They have done so much to contribute their energy towards uplifting the masses and being examples of what can be possible with poetry and how this artform can help transform the minds and hearts of millions. 

Register for this virtual talk using the link below: 

https://santaclaraca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZOewwN_HTEuodkclTfWJmQ

We hope to see you there!

Myra Estrada, 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate 

Myra is an African American and Mexican 16 year old who attends Oakland High School as a junior. Myra spends her free time participating in many college prep programs and school clubs. Myra considers herself as an activist and utilizes her political poetry as a way to expand her knowledge and express her beliefs. In addition, she believes it offers a connection between her and others through rhythm, prosody, and vocalization.

Arlene Biala, 2016 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate

Arlene Biala is a Pinay poet and performance artist born in San Francisco, CA and raised in the South Bay. She has been participating in poetry performances and workshops in the Bay Area for over 30 years and was Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County for 2016 and 2017. Her poetry has been described as "grounded in ritual object and ritual practice, mantras that resonate within the body, and plant the body firmly in the world." 

She is the author of bone, her first chapbook of poetry published in 1993; continental drift, published by West End Press in 1999; her beckoning hands, published by Word Poetry in July, 2014 and winner of the 2015 American Book Award; and one inch punch, published by Word Poetry in October, 2018.  She received her MFA in Poetics & Writing from New College of CA, and was the recipient of an artist residency at Montalvo. Performances and workshops include National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. with U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and Diana Garcia for "Poets Unite!" an evening of readings and conversation honoring United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, with poetry based on the "One Life: Dolores Huerta" exhibit; University of Texas at El Paso; Writers’ Week at UC Riverside; Kuwentuhan - A poetry project led by Barbara Jane Reyes in collaboration with The Poetry Center at SFSU; SFJAZZ Center; San Francisco Asian American Jazz Festival; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Manilatown Center at the I-­Hotel; La Pena Cultural Center; APAture at Intersection for the Arts; Santa Clara University; San Jose Poetry Festival;  and SOMArts Center in San Francisco. She has also performed for and taught creative writing workshops with elementary and high school youth.