8th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to the winners of the 8th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, we will celebrate the winners of the 8th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. 

988 poems were submitted to this year’s competition in grades K-12. Poets wrote about a wide variety of topics – identity, the natural world, interpersonal relationships, conflict, climate change, and locations of personal significance – all from their unique point of view. We are inspired by their honesty, tenacity, wisdom, joy, and nuance on the page.

During this celebration, winning poets will read their poems onstage. Honorable mentions will have their name and poem title read by the emcee and stand to be recognized.

The event is by invitation only. If you would like to join us or have questions, please email us at poetry@ilhumanities.org.