Here you can find information about poetry contests organized or co-organized by the MoSt Poetry Center, including the Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate program; City of Modesto Poet’s Corner; and the Aileen Jaffa Young Poets Contest. Click the links below or in the navigation menu to explore these opportunities.
Contests
Aileen Jaffa Young Poets Contest 2026
Co-sponsored by MoSt (Modesto Stanislaus Poetry Center) and the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW), Modesto chapter. This contest is offered as a means of encouraging young writers throughout Stanislaus County and as a way to remember poet Aileen Jaffa, the founding President of the Poets of the San Joaquin and member of the …
Central Valley Youth Poetry Anthology
Share your voice. Tell your story. Be part of the Central Valley. The Central Valley Youth Poetry Anthology celebrates the poems, perspectives, and experiences of young people in Stanislaus County. We invite high-school-age poets to submit one or two original poems for possible publication in the anthology. Poems may be written in any style or …
City of Modesto Poet’s Corner
The Poet’s Corner Contest is brought to you by the community lead Modesto Poet’s Corner Committee and the City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department. The contest is open to poets of any age who reside in Stanislaus County, and students who attend schools in Stanislaus County. The 2025 Poet’s Corner contest is now …
Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate
ABOUT THE YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM The Position: What Does the Laureate Do? Applicants for the Youth Poet Laureate program submit an application and an artistic statement/biography indicating civic engagement and leadership background along with original poems. A panel of judges critique this work on content, voice, and craft. Leadership and performance are also considered …
Woven Words: Teen Voices from the Central Valley
Poetry Anthology | A Youth Poet Laureate Project Share your unique voice and experiences as a teen living in Stanislaus County. What stories do you have to tell? What moments, places, people, or feelings define your experience growing up here? Categories to include: A prize of $50 will go to the poem that best represents …