Howard County's first youth poet laureate featured in special program at Residences at Vantage Point Oct. 17

Residences at Vantage Point will feature Howard County’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, Mai-Anh Nguyen, in a special program of the retirement community’s Arts & Culture Collective on Friday, Oct. 17, from 3-4 p.m., in the Vantage Point auditorium. The free event is open to the public.

Nguyen, a senior at Oakland Mills High School, will read from her work and talk about her journey as the first student named to the honorary post of youth poet laureate. Nguyen’s program will be moderated by Felix Facchine, Deputy Chief of Staff to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. Among other topics, the pair will discuss the role of the literary arts in encouraging self-expression and building community.

Nguyen was appointed to the youth poet laureate position by the County Executive in October 2024, having received the unanimous support of a review panel comprising members of the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) and the Howard County Arts Council. She was recognized for her “demonstrated sophistication, skill, and knowledge of contemporary poetry.”

Over the last year, Nguyen has used her new platform to spread poetry in traditional and non-traditional ways. This Spring, she spoke to students at the Books in Bloom festival at Color Burst Park, encouraging them to explore the world of creative writing and self- expression.

“It is my belief, or simply my hope, that the Youth Poet Laureate program has enabled more widespread access to poetry,” said Nguyen. “Not everyone has to come to a reading or attend an event to cultivate an interest in poetry. Literature and reading as a whole is a wonderful way to grow one's imagination and empathy.”

The Arts & Culture Collective was established by the Residences at Vantage Point in response to community members’ interest in hosting public activities that engage and educate as well as entertain.

To register for the Arts & Culture Collective program, call 410-992-1241 or visit www.VantagePointResidences.org/arts. Refreshments will be served.

About Residences at Vantage Point

Residences at Vantage Point was founded in 1990 and is a nonprofit serving people age 60 and above. Managed by Life Care Services, the community includes a variety of residential living arrangements from studio to two-bedroom deluxe apartments. It provides long-term health services available exclusively for residents should they need them.

Residences at Vantage Point is noted for its arts, cultural and educational activities, as well as for resident engagement with the larger community of Columbia. It is located at 5400 Vantage Point Road. Visit www.VantagePointResidences.org for more information.