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Kaitlyn Leslie-Smith, named Mount Vernon Youth Poet Laureate Winner

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Kaitlyn Leslie-Smith, named Mount Vernon Youth Poet Laureate Winner

Kaitlyn Leslie-Smith, a rising junior at Denzel Washington School of the Arts, was announced the 2024-2025 Mount Vernon Youth Poet Laureate on Thursday, June 27, 2024. 

Kaitlyn is the CEO of her own company, Kaitlyn Cares Designs, hosting a plethora of events for the community such as Boss-Up Through Entrepreneurship and Teens-to-Seniors Breakfast. She is a high-achieving student at DWSA, demonstrating proficiency in acting, singing and the visual arts. However, it is her talent for creating and reciting poetry that has recently garnered attention. 

In 2023, she secured a silver medal in the Performance Poetry category at the Westchester Regional NAACP ACT-SO competition with her poem "A Black Woman Introduced." The following year, she achieved gold for her poem "And We Are Just Girls" and received a bronze in Dramatic Performance. 

These accomplishments have helped paved the way for numerous public speaking and performance opportunities across New York, including engagements at the Westchester Region NAACP-ACT-SO Fundraising Luncheon, Post Chester Juneteenth Celebration, the NAACP-Mount Vernon’s Men Who Make A Difference Gala, the 37th Annual Black Scholars Recognition Reception, The Robert S. Brown & M. Paul Redd Freedom Fund Luncheon and more.

Kaitlyn's commitment to compassion and leadership is evident in both her entrepreneurial endeavors and her poetic expression. With the support of her family, she continues to make a difference in her community, spreading kindness and inspiring others to do the same.
 

Left to right : 5th Runner Up - Ellie deGrandpre, 3rd Runner Up - Tianna Hughes, Reigning Mount Vernon Youth Poet Laureate - Kaitlyn Leslie, 4th Runner Up- D'Jonney Gordon, 1st Runner Up - Cheyanne Swain All of the runner ups from the competition will serve as Mount Vernon Poetry Ambassadors and serve as the Laureate's cabinet.

 

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