Friends of Coal Creek's Young Poets Competition deadline is Feb. 15

At Friends of Coal Creek, we are big believers in the power of art to connect hearts to places. And so, in collaboration with the Lafayette Art’s Council, we are proud to announce a Young Poets Competition. The theme is Transitions and entrants are asked to find inspiration in the areas of Coal Creek where one type of land, ideas or themes meets another.

The submission window is open now through February 15, 2025, and is open to all middle- and high school students who live or attend school within the Coal Creek communities (Lafayette, Erie, Louisville, Superior and Golden).

The contest has cash prizes for first ($100), second ($50), and third ($30) place winners in four categories:

• High school - Spanish

• High school - English

• Middle school - Spanish

• Middle school - English.

ZBassSpeaks, Lafayette’s poet laureate, is our esteemed judge.

“It is with great honor that I get to be part of this project, and even more so that I will get to hear from a new generation of writers,” ZBassSpeaks says. “I look forward to hearing your voices transcribed in my favorite art form. Your participation gives me great confidence that I will be blown away by your unique styles and views of our world. I encourage you to bring everything to the table and I implore you to be as expressive as you feel necessary. Good luck!”

Prizes will be awarded at an event at the Lafayette Public Library in April, 2025, which is National Poetry Month.

See here for full submission guidelines. If you know a talented middle- or high-schooler who has a way with words, please send them our way and help us share and celebrate the ways our young poets see our creek.

Friends of Coal Creek is a local nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the habitat value and improving the resilience of Coal Creek and the communities along its run.