East Bay Teens Recognized In Poetry Competition

ALAMEDA, CA — Five East Bay teens have something to celebrate this summer: they’re the winners of the 2025 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition.

Anika Mangla, from Fremont, was named the “2025 Youth Poet Laureate”; Anjanae Lewis, from Dublin, was named “Vice Youth Poet Laureate”; and Krishita Kataria, from Dublin; Willow Perry, from Hayward; and Mia Rosales, from Newark are this year’s three finalists, the Alameda County Library announced Thursday.

The annual competition “celebrates teen voices, civic engagement, and literary excellence across Alameda County,” according to AC Library staff. A panel of judges selected the winners based on “the content, craft and voice of their work.”

“Year after year, teens embrace this opportunity to showcase their creativity through the art of poetry and spoken word,” said Deb Sica, Acting Alameda County Librarian. “We learn so much about these future leaders through their powerful stories.”

Mangla and Lewis will serve as ambassadors through August 2026, which involves performing at community events, leading workshops and competing in state and national poetry competitions, according to library staff.

As the 2025 Youth Poet Laureate, Mangla will receive a MacBook and a suite of Apple products, and her poetry will be featured in the “National Poetry Anthology.”

"[Poetry] challenges me not only to reflect, but to act,” said Mangla. “Through poetry, I’ve learned that even the most intimate emotions can spark wider understanding and that a single line can stir hearts, shift minds, or start conversations that matter.”

Lewis, the 2025 Vice Youth Poet Laureate, will receive an iPad and a suite of Apple products.

“Poetry inspires me to expand and build what I imagine. It helps me stay rooted in my own inner world while deepening my connection to those around me," said Lewis.

An awards ceremony was held Aug. 1 at the REACH Ashland Youth Center in San Leandro to celebrate the five winners.

Photos and brief bios of this year's winners are below.

To learn more about the Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate Competition, go here.