Long Beach is setting the stage for a night of youthful linguistic prowess at the Edison Theater downtown. On Thursday, the Long Beach Public Library, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach and supported by Urban Word NYC, is gearing up to crown its next Youth Poet Laureate and four Poet Ambassadors. The event, kicking off at 213 E. Broadway at 6 p.m., promises to showcase the poetry chops of nine local high schoolers vying for the title, according to the City of Long Beach.

"Long Beach is honored to celebrate the diverse voices and poetic talent of our youth," said Mayor Rex Richardson, as per the City of Long Beach. The mayor is looking forward to an evening where the youths get to once more reaffirm their creative presence in the community's tapestry. The competition's final act, lasting a swift 90 minutes, will feature finalists pitching in with two poems each from their portfolio, as they compete under the scrutinizing gaze of a panel of accomplished poets, including F. Douglas Brown, Michelle Brittan Rosado and Claire Beeli, Long Beach's current laureate. The much-awaited deciders will be announced during the ceremony.

As detailed by the Long Beach's official website, Library Director Cathy De Leon said, "It's an evening where creativity takes center stage, and every poem is a testament to the vibrant spirit of our community." The library director anticipates a memorable experience for attendees.

The Youth Poet Laureate initiative offers a dazzling $1,500 scholarship to the winner, while each of the four designated Ambassadors is set to receive a healthy $500 scholarship. These poetic paragons will take charge for a year, engaging the Long Beach youth in literary-arts and receiving mentorship to bring to life community projects that echo the city's ethos. Claire Beeli, euphoric about her tenure, told longbeach.gov, "My experience with the YPL program has been nothing short of transformative."