ISABELLA RAMIREZ NAMED
2021 SOUTH FLORIDA YOUTH POET LAUREATE
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Jason Taylor Foundation will celebrate Isabella Ramirez, the 2021 South Florida Youth Poet Laureate (SFYPL) this Friday evening, April 30th, during the organization’s monthly teen open mic “The VoiceBox” from 7:00-9:00 PM. Ramirez, a senior currently attending Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Fla., will be showcasing several of her original poems during the event, which will be accessible via Zoom.
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Isabella is an award-winning writer who was appointed as the 2020 National Student Poet of the Southeast Region of the United States. Some of her accolades include placing first in the 2021 Louder Than A Bomb Florida Indy Competition, earning a National Silver Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, being named a 2021 Merit Winner in Spoken Word from the National YoungArts Foundation, and getting published in “The Best of Teen Writing 2020.” Through poetry, Isabella hopes to inspire others and provide a platform for social justice.
The South Florida Youth Poet Laureate competition is a collaboration between the Jason Taylor Foundation’s Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, and Urban Word, a New York-based literary arts education and youth development organization. Anna is now the fifth ever winner of the South Florida award.
The South Florida Youth Poet Laureate program holds space for one to appreciate the exemplary penmanship of a spoken word artist,” said Epiphany, bluapple Poetry Programs Coordinator. “This year’s judging panel ultimately chose Isabella, a skilled wordsmith who not only uses vibrant language but introduces nuanced perspective via her poetry. Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to all of the other amazing poets who submitted.”
An esteemed panel of educators, authors, poets and community professionals meticulously read through the largest submission pool since the inception of the South Florida Youth Poet Laureate program that included a portfolio of poetry and each student’s résumé. At the end of the process, one Youth Poet Laureate and two Youth Poet Ambassadors were selected. The Ambassadors are Ashade Altine and Misha Bernard-Lucien, both students at Nova High School.
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As Youth Poet Laureate, Isabella will work with the Jason Taylor Foundation and Urban Word to help foster community and social awareness through her poetry.
In addition to Friday night’s event, Isabella will also be a featured guest this week on the “ballpoint with bluapple Poetry Network” podcast, a podcast dedicated to celebrating art and community throughout South Florida. Hosted by bluapple Poetry Programs Assistant “Just John” Persaud, ballpoint is available on all podcast streaming platforms.
Those interested in attending the “The VoiceBox” event may obtain the Zoom link by contacting the Jason Taylor Foundation at bluapple@jasontaylorfoundation.comor through a direct message at @bluapplepoetry.
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About the Jason Taylor Foundation
In July 2004, Miami Dolphins legendary Defensive End, Jason Taylor, established the Jason Taylor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Foundation’s mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.
Since opening its doors, the Jason Taylor Foundation has impacted tens of thousands of children through innovative programming including The Jason Taylor Reading Room, Cool Gear for the School Year, the Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center, Jason Taylor Scholars and the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, among others. For more information on the Jason Taylor Foundation, please visit the organization’s website at visit the organization’s website at www.JasonTaylorFoundation.org or follow on social media sites including Facebook or Twitter and Instagram: @jtfoundation99.
