City of Toronto recommends Shahaddah Jack as its first Youth Poet Laureate

“I am deeply honored to serve as Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate and I look forward to working with the City and community organizations to amplify youth voices through the arts,” Jack has said.

Approval of Jack as City of Toronto’s inaugural Youth Poet was made on Sep 18 by City Council The Economic and Community Development Committee.

“The appointment of Shahaddah Jack as Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate is a significant step in amplifying youth voices across the city. I look forward to seeing her inspire others to embrace the power of poetry and spoken word,“ Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said.

Her term beginning on October 15 and running until December 31, 2026 would position Jack as a literary ambassador for Toronto’s youth and empower young voices through poetry and spoken word.

Recommended by the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) to mark its 25th anniversary, the Youth Poet Laureate Program was launched in November 2023 and aims to uplift young writers’ greater involvement of youth in literary arts, encouraging them to share their stories and perspectives.

Known for addressing human rights, the Black experience and the complexities of adolescence in her work,  20-year-old bilingual spoken word poet, performer and human rights activist from Tkaronto has performed at over 100 events.

Being recognized by Streets of Toronto as one ofthe most inspirational women of the year, Jack graduated from the Remix Project and was named BGC Canada’s National Youth of the Year in 2022.

Her debut book, Underrated Royalty was recently published and also released her debut single, My Mother’s Daughter.

To engage youth in poetry, participate in civic events and create art that reflects the voices and experiences of Toronto’s young people, Jack will collaborate with the City’s Poet Laureate Lillian Allen in elevating youth voices for greater inclusion in municipal governance.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)