Daniel Umemezie celebrates his appointment as National Youth Poet Laureate. Umemezie, a Nigerian American poet and student from Houston, Texas, spoke with PBS NewsHour about using his words to bridge worlds, connect communities, and inspire a new generation of young writers across the country. Photo: PBS NewsHour
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July 17, 2026
Daniel Umemezie is the newest National Youth Poet Laureate, and he has a lot to say. The Nigerian American poet from Houston sat down with PBS NewsHour to talk about what poetry means to him, how he uses his words to bridge worlds, and what he wants other young writers to know.
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For a decade, the National Youth Poet Laureate program has honored some of the country’s top young writers who are using their work to inspire social change. Fred de Sam Lazaro recently sat down with the 2026-2027 laureate in his hometown of Cedar Falls, Iowa. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Visit the National Youth Poet Laureate anthology page. Read through some of the linked poems, which were written on themes of home, place and identity. After reading, students should discuss the poems and how they differ based on student and place. Some guiding questions can be:
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
