ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced the appointment of Howard County’s second Youth Poet Laureate, Penelope Tofigh. Photos from the event can be found on the County’s Flickr website.
Poetry has the transformative power to give shape to our emotions and share meaning from our experiences, allowing us to see ourselves and each other more clearly. By amplifying youth voices through poetry, we not only nurture creativity but also ensure that the next generation has a platform to be heard, to inspire, and to lead. Congratulations to Penelope on her appointment as Howard County’s next Youth Poet Laureate. An avid writer and talented poet, Penelope will play an important artistic role in our community, enhancing and uplifting poetry among our young people in Howard County.
A junior at River Hill High School, Tofigh is an avid writer and an active member in River Hill’s theater program, wind ensemble, jazz band, and marching band. As a poet, Tofigh has excelled in the 2025 Poetry Out Loud competition – earning first place at River Hill, then going on to become Maryland’s State winner, and ultimately a National Semi-Finalist. As the County’s next Youth Poet Laureate, she plans to host a regular poetry slam for county youth, as well as host a poetry workshop on how to write and how to perform their piece.
I believe that every person who reads, writes, and recites poetry deserves to feel secure in their understanding and passion for it. I know that if I didn’t have the teachers, family, and mentors that cheered me on and helped me grow, I wouldn’t be anywhere near the person (or poet) that I am today. That is why it will be my mission to share that experience with the next generation of artists.
In November 2023, Ball launched Howard County’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate program in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council and the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo). The program aims to amplify the power of youth expression, celebrate community, and promote literary arts in Howard County. Ten months later, Ball unveiled the Howard County’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate, Mai-Anh Nguyen.
“The Arts Council is thrilled with the announcement of Penelope Tofigh as Howard County’s second Youth Poet Laureate,” said Coleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council. “This program is the perfect platform for young writers - like Penelope - to share their voices, their stories, and their vision with the wider community and help shape the next generation of arts and community leaders.”
“HoCoPoLitSo is honored to be a part of the Youth Poet Laureate Program, a commitment we have in Howard County to a future that believes in the power of poetry to build a legacy of hope,” said Ryna May, Co-Chair of HoCoPoLitSo. “This is something our young artists are uniquely positioned to do, and it’s a credit to the leadership of the County Executive and our partners at the Howard County Arts Council that this program endures.”
The Youth Poet Laureate will act as an ambassador for literacy, arts, and youth expression in Howard County. The Youth Poet Laureate will demonstrate a passion for poetry and its power to connect our communities through local public readings and participation in civic events. In this role, the Youth Poet Laureate will also coordinate readings and literary events with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard Community College (HCC).
An honorary one-year position, the Youth Poet Laureate is formally appointed by the County Executive, acting on a recommendation determined through an artistic and community review panel selection process coordinated by the Howard County Arts Council and HoCoPoLitSo. As Howard County’s Youth Poet Laureate, Tofigh’s one-year term runs from September 2025 through August 2026 and she will receive a $500 stipend.