06/17/2026
Oakland celebrates the creativity of our youth!
🎉 Congratulations to Isaiah Kahn, this year's Youth Poet Laureate - Oakland!
Isaiah Kahn, a 16-year-old rising junior at Oakland School for the Arts, has been named the 2026 OYPL by the Oakland Public Library.
The Friends of the OPL is a proud, long-time funder of the OYPL — awarding a $5,000 college scholarship to Isaiah and $500 to each finalist, plus a grant covering additional program costs.
The OYPL is the second longest-running program of its kind in the nation.
Isaiah says it best:
"I'm honored to represent Oakland in this way because it has shaped so much of who I am. I write about my people and my city and draw inspiration from both. I couldn't imagine writing poetry anywhere else."
Congratulations to the vice poet laureate, Isabel Shen of Head-Royce School and finalists. Thanks to Sharon McKellar and OPL Teen Services and the many supporters of this event held at Oakstop on June 5, including Rowena Brown and Ynez Arce.
Photos courtesy of Doug Zimmerman.
