Philadelphia's Rising Star Poet Heads to National Stage
Malaya Ulan, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, is one step away from achieving her dream of becoming the country's youth poet laureate. As part of four finalists selected from a nationwide pool of talented young poets, Ulan will take the stage alongside Chloe Chou of California, Rishi Janakiraman of North Carolina, and Daniel Somotochukwu Umemezie of Iowa.
The April 25 ceremony in Omaha, Nebraska, marks the culmination of Ulan's journey to this prestigious title. Initially named Philly's youth poet laureate by The Free Library of Philadelphia last year, she has continued to showcase her remarkable talent through various performances and collaborations with local artists.
As a multifaceted artist, Ulan has explored poetry, film, painting, and dance, often working alongside her mother, fellow artist Anito Gavino. Their collaboration on the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival production "Special Topics" highlights her versatility. Her recent appearances at esteemed institutions like the Barnes Foundation, Asian Arts Initiative, Painted Bride Art Center, and a TED Talk at the University of Pennsylvania conference demonstrate her growing presence in the arts scene.
Ulan's poetry collection, "Ulan: When my tears turn into roses," debuted in 2022, offering a glimpse into her creative voice. The upcoming national ceremony promises to be an exciting moment for this talented young poet from Philadelphia, as she competes for the title of U.S. youth poet laureate and shares her art with a wider audience.
Malaya Ulan, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, is one step away from achieving her dream of becoming the country's youth poet laureate. As part of four finalists selected from a nationwide pool of talented young poets, Ulan will take the stage alongside Chloe Chou of California, Rishi Janakiraman of North Carolina, and Daniel Somotochukwu Umemezie of Iowa.
The April 25 ceremony in Omaha, Nebraska, marks the culmination of Ulan's journey to this prestigious title. Initially named Philly's youth poet laureate by The Free Library of Philadelphia last year, she has continued to showcase her remarkable talent through various performances and collaborations with local artists.
As a multifaceted artist, Ulan has explored poetry, film, painting, and dance, often working alongside her mother, fellow artist Anito Gavino. Their collaboration on the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival production "Special Topics" highlights her versatility. Her recent appearances at esteemed institutions like the Barnes Foundation, Asian Arts Initiative, Painted Bride Art Center, and a TED Talk at the University of Pennsylvania conference demonstrate her growing presence in the arts scene.
Ulan's poetry collection, "Ulan: When my tears turn into roses," debuted in 2022, offering a glimpse into her creative voice. The upcoming national ceremony promises to be an exciting moment for this talented young poet from Philadelphia, as she competes for the title of U.S. youth poet laureate and shares her art with a wider audience.
! Malaya Ulan is killing it in the Philly arts scene and now she's about to take on the nation 
. I mean, four finalists? That's some serious talent right there 
. Her collab with her mom Anito Gavino is a masterclass in versatility - who knew poetry could be that cool? 
And let's talk about her TED Talk at UPenn... girl's got skills 
. Can't wait to see what she does on the national stage!
I'm literally so hyped for Malaya Ulan! She's been grinding for years and it's amazing to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves 
As a Philly native myself, I've had the chance to catch her live a few times and let me tell you, she's got bars for days 
i mean have u seen her performances? she's got skills!!! 
i think she'd be amazing as youth poet laureate, can u imagine her reciting poetry in front of a crowd of people?? 
we should def support her & go check out her TED talk at UPenn! 
just saw this news about Malaya Ulan being a finalist for youth poet laureate and i'm low-key hyped for her! she's been grinding for years already, and it's awesome to see philly supporting her dreams 
. I'm rooting for her all the way! #TeamMalayaUlan #PoetryInAction #YouthPoetLaureate
Genius! I've seen some of her TED Talks and she's just so passionate about her art, it's infectious! 
I'm sending all my good vibes her way for this national ceremony - I know she's gonna crush it! 
can you imagine walking up on that stage with your words being heard by thousands... its like, super intimidating but also super empowering at the same time 
. And omg, have you seen her TED Talk? Girl is on fire 
!
i love that she's not just sticking to one thing, trying out all these different art forms too 
i'm so hyped for her to compete for the youth poet laureate spot 
fingers crossed for her! 
i love how she explores different art forms too, it's so inspiring to see someone who's passionate about more than just one thing 
cant wait for the ceremony in Omaha, gonna be cheering her on from the comfort of my couch 
I'd love to see some transparency here 