Did you hear that incredible young-adult poet recite her poem at President Biden’s presidential inauguration a few years ago? I was awestruck by her passion and love of country, calling us to band together as a nation and pull ourselves out of a dark place. —October 17 is Black Poetry Day, and you might not be surprised that I thought of her once again.

Amanda Gorman, now 26, was named as the first U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate. She has read her poems at the United Nations, in the White House, at the Superbowl, in the Library of Congress, and more. Her poems continue to call us to tell our stories and speak up for positive change. She now has a collection of poetry, a children’s book, a journal, and more. She is the youngest Board member of “826 National,” the largest youth writing network in the U.S. And she’s the founder of a non-profit organization that runs a youth writing and leadership program. Now that’s a young women who has already helped shape many lives!

This photo is by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Together Live. It’s found in the Poetry Foundation’s article about Amanda Gorman, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/amanda-gorman.

Yours in writing, reading and learning,

Betsy Schwarzentraub