Item - 2024.EC15.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council appoint Shahaddah Jack to the position of City of Toronto Youth Poet Laureate for a term beginning October 15, 2024, until December 31, 2026, or until a successor is appointed.

Shahaddah Jack, gave a presentation to the Economic and Community Development Committee.

This report recommends that City Council appoint Shahaddah Jack as the City of Toronto's inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, for a term beginning October 15, 2024, and ending on December 31, 2026. This term may be extended beyond the end of December to allow for the appointment of a successor.

The Youth Poet Laureate Program was initiated at the recommendation of the Toronto Youth Cabinet in November 2023 to recognize and celebrate their 25th Anniversary. The Youth Poet Laureate will serve as a literary ambassador for young people across Toronto, working to elevate the status of poetry, language, and young writers by inspiring and engaging youth to share their stories through written and spoken word.

Shahaddah Jack, a 20-year-old bilingual spoken word poet and activist, uses her poetic lens to explore human rights, the Black experience, and the challenges of adolescence. Shahaddah has performed on over 100 stages, including events such as the Toronto International Festival of Authors and Nuit Blanche, and she recently released both her debut novel and single. She has been recommended for appointment following a competitive process adjudicated by the City's current Poet Laureate, Lillian Allen, and representatives from the Toronto Youth Cabinet.