Youth Poet Laureate

2026 Youth Poet Laureate Cadence Diggs

Cadence Diggs is an 11th-grade student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Passionate about cultivating spaces where others can become their best selves, Cadence leads with purpose while continuously striving for personal growth. She is a scholar, artist and visionary leader whose excellence spans academics, advocacy and the arts.

Cadence is the Founder and President of the Pegasi Poetry Society, an organization she created to educate and empower her peers through creative writing and literary expression. Her commitment to service is evident through her community impact initiatives, including hosting a book drive to help build libraries in local homeless shelters.

Her accolades include being a two-time Gold Medalist in Poetry at the Fort Worth Tarrant County ACT-SO Competition, as well as a presenter and performer at the NAACP National ACT-SO Awards Ceremony. She recently received her second distinguished rating as a vocal soloist performing an Italian Art Song in the UIL Solo & Ensemble Festival. She also serves as Vice President of the Pearls and Ivy Service Organization and was selected as a featured presenter at a DISD OnRamps Symposium.

Cadence Diggs ACTSO Performance

About the Youth Poet Laureate

The Youth Poet Laureate is designed to encourage and support the literary talent of young people pursuing creative endeavors and to provide a platform for a youth voice in Dallas.

The Youth Poet Laureate is a one-year term, announced at the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition Award Ceremony in April. The Youth Poet Laureate will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Poet Laureate’s work and photo will be on display in all Dallas Public Library locations during the term.

Youth Poet Laureate duties will include:

film a promotional video for the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition to inspire students to submit their original creative works to the contest
provide a public reading of their poetry at a minimum of one speaking engagement between May and August
attend the next Express Yourself! Award Ceremony (in-person or virtually if out-of-town)

Other opportunities include (depending on availability):

speaking to elementary classes about poetry and the Express Yourself! competition September to January
public engagements as requested
work with the Dallas Poet Laureate to develop programs and initiative to engage youth in poetry
receive mentoring from the Dallas Poet Laureate on their own creative works

All Youth Poet Laureates must:

reside within the City of Dallas or attend a school within the city limits
attain the age of 15 by May 1 in the term year but no older than 20
complete the online application including:
- five original poems; one poem must be based on the theme of Dallas - living in Dallas, issues affecting Dallas, Dallas history, etc.
- contact information for an adult reference who can speak to the applicant’s suitability to be poet laureate (non-family person, for example, a teacher, coach, employer, neighbor, etc.)
- biography including extracurricular activities, published works, academic and other achievements
- statement of why they should be the Youth Poet Laureate
- description of what community service organizations or events they have participated in the City of Dallas

For more information email libyouthservices@dallascityhall.com