Accepts submissions once each year from young poets, rappers, leaders and activists from across Seattle who are interested in representing the city as Seattle Youth Poet Laureate, usually at the end of March. A group of judges will choose eight finalists and will select one teen to be honored with the title of Seattle Youth Poet Laureate and a runner up Youth Poet Ambassador at the Commencement Performance. The Seattle Youth Poet Laureate will win a book deal with a local publisher, work closely with published local writer mentor team to assemble and edit their work, and make special appearances and readings throughout Seattle for one year.   Winners and finalists will be notified in early May.   The Seattle Youth Poet Laureate is a program of Seattle Arts & Lectures' Writers in the Schools program (SAL/WITS) with support from Urban Word NYC, Northwest Folklife Festival, the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America and Cave Canem. The Seattle Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify young writers and leaders who are committed to poetry and performance, civic and community engagement, education and equity across the Puget Sound Region.