Berkeley Adult & Youth Poet Laureates 2026

A Poetry Reading & Community Conversation

Join us for a poetry reading and conversation with Berkeley's current poet laureates, Hanan Misri, Nolawit Ketema, and Rachel Dunn.

April is National Poetry Month, so come celebrate with Berkeley's current poet laureates, Hanan Misri (2026-27 Berkeley Poet Laureate), Nolawit Ketema (2026 Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate) and Rachel Dunn (2026 Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate). They will be reading and performing their original poetry, before taking part in a community conversation and audience Q&A. This program will take place at the Central Branch (5th Floor) on Saturday, April 18th at 2pm and is co-sponsored by Berkeley Civic Arts. 

Learn more about the Berkeley Poet Laureate and Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate programs.

ABOUT THE POETS

2026-2027 Berkeley Poet Laureate Hanan Masri

Born of war and gardens, Hanan Masri is honored to be an ambassador and devotee to poetry and service learning. A Berkeley teacher for nearly 3 decades, she’s relished the opportunity to support young people in finding their creative voice, mostly at her school site of 25 years, Berkwood Hedge, the first racially integrated school in Berkeley. A certified herbalist and nutritionist, her work explores themes of land as an extension of ancestral longing, particularly the mitochondrial haunt of her mother's Palestinian-Lebanese lineage. Finally, Hanan is cofounder of High Road Scholars, an education engagement business offering programming around nature, indigenous cultures around the world, the arts, and movement for youth.

2026 Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate Nolawit Ketema

Writing, especially poetry, is how I make sense of emotions and experiences I don’t yet know how to say out loud. It allows me to slow down, to sit with what I’m feeling, even when those feelings are uncomfortable or unresolved. Through writing, I give myself permission to notice, to feel, and to understand. Most of my work is rooted in genuine emotions and lived experiences. When I write poetry, I also write for the little girl in me who loved reading and dreamed of becoming a writer. For a long time, that dream felt unrealistic, something better hidden away. When people asked what I wanted to be, I learned to give safer answers. Now, every poem is a way of honoring that younger version of myself, the one who felt the need to conceal a true part of who she was. I write for children who are told, directly or indirectly, that their dreams are impractical or not enough. I write for the people who have walked with me through both joy and hardship, shaping the person I am today. I know that many people, especially young children, don’t always feel drawn to reading or writing so my hope is to create work that feels honest and approachable. Poetry shouldn’t demand perfection or expertise, only openness. If even one piece makes someone feel seen, understood, or less alone, then the words have done what they were meant to do.

2026 Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate Rachel Dunn

Rachel Dunn is in the ninth grade, attending Berkeley High School. She has been writing for most of her life and enjoys reading books as well as poetry. She has been inspired by those around her who read, write and pursue their passions. She writes about her life and personal experiences, as well as her observations about the world and the people around her.

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