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Finding Empowerment in Words: Meet the 2026 Youth Poet Laureate of Long Beach
By Staff Writer
Published on Tue, Jun 23, 2026
In June, Long Beach Poly High School senior Ajala Sen was named the 2026 Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) of Long Beach, a role that will allow her to represent the city's young writers while using poetry as a platform for community engagement and social change.
But long before she was named the city's newest Youth Poet Laureate, Sen was a young songwriter putting lyrics and verses onto paper.
"My first introduction to writing verse was actually through music," Sen said. "I started songwriting in elementary school."
That early interest soon expanded into poetry through the Reflections arts program, where she began entering literary competitions as a child. In eighth grade, her creative interests developed even further when she was named a finalist in the Youth Poet Laureate Program. Sen says one of the most valuable aspects of the program has been the opportunity to share work with fellow writers and receive feedback in a supportive environment.
"It feels like a very tight-knit poetry community,” Sen said. “It’s a really safe space and it really helped me build my craft."
The experience also taught her the importance of surrounding herself with other artists who challenge and inspire her.
"Sometimes people want to feel like they're the best at their craft, but they're not going to get better from that," she said. "That's why it's nice being around people who are better than you, because it actually will help you better your own craft."
Sen is particularly drawn to slam poetry, a performance-focused style that combines rhythm, storytelling and spoken-word delivery.
"What separates slam poetry from typical poetry is the flow of it," she said. "It's more rhythmic, more urban and you can get really creative with what you have on the page through how you recite it."
While poetry has become one of her primary creative outlets, music continues to play a major role in her life. Sen fronts a punk band called Sugar Skulls, which she formed in eighth grade with friends. To her, the connection between poetry and music feels natural.
"Ultimately, the goal of both of them is to get a message across," Sen said. "A lot of music has really powerful messages, and I feel like poetry is a lot of the same thing."
Sen says the ability to convey impactful messages through poetry is inspiring a resurgence in the art form.
“I think there's a big correlation between expressive arts like poetry and the state of everything,” Sen said. “Because people see a need for change and we feel like we need to fight for something. It’s definitely reflected in the arts of the time.”
As Youth Poet Laureate, Sen hopes to use her platform to turn ideas into action through community outreach, public readings and events across the city.
"I'm really excited to use my platform because that means I can set up events, try and make some change and do a lot of community outreach," she said.
Her enthusiasm for community engagement is rooted in her love for Long Beach itself.
"We have a lot of artists here in Long Beach," she said. "And that has seeped into the schools. We have a lot of art programs, which I'm very thankful for because I really think that's what got me started."
She also credits the city's diversity for helping shape its vibrant creative culture.
"I love how diverse we are," Sen said. "We have so many different kinds of people that I feel like it's this beautiful haven of creativity."
Looking ahead, Sen plans to continue expanding her creative work. She is currently preparing a self-published chapbook focused on themes of empowerment and hopes to release a second album with Sugar Skulls. But no matter where her writing takes her next, her goal remains the same.
"My ultimate goal is that my work reaches people and empowers them," Sen said. "I just want my voice to help make a change."
For a poet who first discovered the power of words through music, it's a mission that has guided her from the very beginning—and one that will continue to shape her work as Long Beach's newest Youth Poet Laureate.
