The City of Philadelphia Poet Laureate program is administered by the Free Library of Philadelphia and guided by a governing committee composed of poets, educators, and arts-organization professionals from around the city.

The Poet Laureate is a civic position that recognizes an exceptional poet who also demonstrates a commitment to the power of poetry to engage and inspire people throughout Philadelphia's neighborhoods. In addition to the two-year Poet Laureate position, the program also supports a new Youth Poet Laureate each year. The Poet Laureate mentors the Youth Poet Laureate, who represents the voice of Philadelphia's young poets. Both poets engage with Philadelphia citizens through readings, events, and a special project of their choosing.

2024-2025 Philadelphia Poet Laureate

Kai Davis

Photo by Shawn Theodore

Kai Davis is a Black Queer writer, performer, and teaching artist from Philadelphia. Her work explores Blackness, Queerness, womanhood, and the ways these identities converge, as well as examining how power structures function on a global, national, interpersonal, and internal level. Among the topics she discusses are structural racism, misogyny, Black womanhood, ancestral trauma, mental health, intersectionality, and Queer love.

Davis spends most of her time working as Poetry Editor for Apiary Magazine and as Co-Host and Artistic Director for Philadelphia-based poetry performance collective The Philly Pigeon. Davis also visits high schools and local non-profit organizations, teaching poetry to marginalized and under-served youth. She performs her work across the country and hosts writing workshops at colleges and universities when not in Philadelphia.

Davis has published four chapbooks: Music & Marrow (2013), The Falling Action (2014), Black Chronicle (2016), and Ain't I? (2019). Her work has been published in The Offing (2018), The Shade Journal (2019), and Mouths of Rain: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Thought (2021).

2024-2025 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate

Malaya Ulan

Malaya Ulan (meaning "Freedom Rain") is a 16-year-old Filipino-American Philadelphia-based artivist. Malaya is a multidimensional poet who merges her poetry with dance, film, and visual art. She has performed at the Barnes Foundation, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Asian Arts Initiative, Painted Bride, Movement Research at Judson Dance Theatre, Festive Walk Philippines, and more. She collaborates with her mother in a collective, AniMalayaWorks. She was awarded the Scholastic Art and Writing gold key for the Philadelphia region in 2023 and first place in the open category for the Youth Film Awards at WHYY for her poetic film Anthem Erased. Her poetry accompanied by paintings has been exhibited at Da Vinci Art Alliance Exhibit and Imperfect Gallery.

"When I was younger, I watched videos of youths poet laureate in English class, never imagining that I would become a Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia. Poetry is incredibly important to me; it has always been a portal to healing, a connection to my ancestors, and a form of resistance. Being not only the Youth Poet Laureate, but the Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia is a huge honor, considering that Philadelphia is a city that has birthed so many amazing poets. I am excited to use my creativity as an organizer, poet, dancer, filmmaker, and to bring together my fellow teens in the powerful act of radical poetry writing."

During her Laureate year, Malaya will be an ambassador for poetry around the city through readings and workshops.

For more information, including requests for appearances by the Philadelphia Poet Laureate or Youth Poet Laureate, contact poetlaureate@freelibrary.org. Please note that we may not be able to attend all requests out of respect for the time of the two poets.