2017 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award Winners

This August, Illinois Humanities announced the first annual 2017 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award Winners. Out of the 260 entries that were received across the state, 19 young poets from kindergarten to 12th grade received awards and 25 students received honorable mentions. With ChiArts’ first class of Creative Writers graduating last May, we’re thrilled that Faith Moreno, Haley Cao, and Ruth Jones won for the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

From 1970-2000, Gwendolyn Brooks hosted the statewide poetry awards and reviving the program was an initiative within the “Our Miss Brooks 100” collaboration. As a poet, feminist, activist, and the first African American woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Miss Brooks is one of the most authentic and significant literary heroes not only in Chicago, but throughout the nation. Huge congratulations to Faith, Haley, and Ruth on receiving a 2017 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award for the following pieces:

10th Grade: “Alcoholism” by Faith Moreno

11th Grade: “Prayer” by Haley Cao

12th Grade: “Untitled” by Ruth Jones.

For a full list of winners and more information on “Our Miss Brooks 100” programming, click here.