Get to know Malaya Ulan, the 2024–25 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate. 

The Free Library of Philadelphia has announced the 2024–25 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate: Malaya Ulan, a junior at Science Leadership Academy at Beeber. Ulan was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants by the Poet Laureate Governing Committee and will follow Oyewumi Oyeniyi, who served as the 2023–24 Youth Poet Laureate. This official recognition aims to celebrate and support young poets in Philadelphia.

About Malaya Ulan

Malaya Ulan, a 16-year-old Filipino-American artivist, blends her poetry with various art forms including dance, film, and visual art. She has performed at notable venues such as the Barnes Foundation and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. Additionally, Ulan collaborates with her mother in a collective called AniMalayaWorks.

Her accolades include winning 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 work has also 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,” Malaya Ulan said. “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 tenure, Ulan will serve as an ambassador for poetry across the city through readings and workshops. The Poet Laureate program, managed by the Free Library since 2017, celebrates exceptional poets who commit to using poetry to engage and inspire the Philadelphia community. The Youth Poet Laureate, mentored by the Poet Laureate, receives a scholarship and represents the voices of young poets in the city through various events and projects.

For more on the Youth Poet Laureate Program, check out this video featuring several former Youth Poets Laureate of Philadelphia. To explore the possibility of working with Malaya for a project or event, please email poetlaureate@freelibrary.org and be sure to include whether an honorarium will be made available.