East Toronto’s Shahaddah Jack set to become Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate
East Toronto’s Shahaddah Jack is being recommended to become the City of Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate.
Jack, who was named the BGC Canada (Boys and Girls Club of Canada) National Youth of the Year in 2022 for her work with the club in the Eastview community, is expected to be officially appointed to the position at Toronto Council’s October meeting.
The groundbreaking role of Youth Poet Laureate will see the 20-year-old Jack take on the role of literary ambassador for Toronto’s youth, empowering young voices through poetry and spoken word, said a city news release on Sept. 18.
Jack’s term as Youth Poet Laureate is expected to begin on Oct. 15 of this year and run through until Dec. 31, 2026.
The Youth Poet Laureate Program was launched in November 2023 at the recommendation of the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) to mark its 25th anniversary, said the city’s news release. The Program aims to uplift young writers and foster greater involvement of youth in literary arts, encouraging them to share their stories and perspectives.
A bilingual spoken word poet, performer and human rights activist from Tkaronto, Jack is making waves with her impactful work and is known for addressing human rights, the Black experience and the complexities of adolescence in her work. She has performed at more than 100 events in the city.
“I am deeply honored to serve as Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate,” said Jack in the news release.
“Poetry has always been my way of sharing stories that reflect the struggles and joys of young people, especially those from equity deserving communities. I hope to inspire others to use their voices for change and I look forward to working with the City and community organizations to amplify youth voices through the arts.”
A graduate of the Remix Project, Jack has been recognized by Streets of Toronto as one of the most inspirational women of the year along with her BGC honours. She recently published her debut book, Underrated Royalty, and released her debut single, My Mother’s Daughter. While a student at East York Collegiate, Jack formed the school’s first Black Students Association.
As Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate, Jack will collaborate with the City’s Poet Laureate, Lillian Allen, to engage youth in poetry, participate in civic events and create art that reflects the voices and experiences of Toronto’s young people, said the news release. Her role will elevate youth voices and advocate for greater inclusion in municipal governance.
“The appointment of Shahaddah Jack as Toronto’s first Youth Poet Laureate is a significant step in amplifying youth voices across the city, and in recognizing the exceptional talents of youth in our city,” said Mayor Olivia Chow in the news release. “Her work embodies the diverse experiences of our young people and I look forward to seeing her inspire others to embrace the power of poetry and spoken word. ”
For earlier Beach Metro Community News articles on Jack, please see https://beachmetro.com/2022/12/01/east-toronto-poet-shahaddah-jack-named-boys-and-girls-club-of-canadas-national-youth-of-the-year/ and https://beachmetro.com/2023/02/22/in-my-opinion-black-history-is-365-bgc-national-youth-of-the-year-shahadda-jack-shares-her-thoughts-on-black-history-month/
More information about Jack and her projects can be found at https://shahaddahjack.com/www.shahaddahjack.com/
More information about the Youth Poet Laureate program is available at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/youth-poet-laureate/
