Jasmine Guerrero Sevilla has been named the second Santa Barbara County Youth Poet Laureate. She will be inducted July 22 at the Solvang City Council Meeting.
Guerrero Sevilla was born in Santa Barbara and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley, along with her twin sister, and younger twin brothers.
She was the club representative of the Santa Ynez High School Jazz Club, held the title of drum major for 2022-24, and has won the department awards in music twice since eighth-grade.
In addition to valuing her education, Guerrero Sevilla has set an example for those around her, which helped her approach and take on the title of the 2023 Homecoming Queen for SYHS.
Through her love of music, writing lyrics, and leadership, she has formed a passion and understanding for poetry. She works at a local ranch where she house sits, dog sits, and babysits, and does house cleaning services.
She has volunteer at local events, including catering, running childrens booths, and auctions.
Guerrero Sevilla understands the conflicts with race, language barriers, children’s mental health, and environmental issues that surround her community. As Santa Barbara County’s youth poet laureate, she said she intends to continue making a change through her writing.
Following is a poem by Jasmine Guerrero Sevilla
“What We Are”
“I am a tree with fallen leaves
I am a thick powerline firmly holding onto
The next electric power pole
I am a red car on the side of the road
With no fuel
I am a pebble that sits between the dirty
Blue ocean and the rest of the world
I am the brown crunchy leaves people
Step on during the fall
I am the rough winded strings on a
Cold guitar
I am a teddy bear, still in that dusty
Old box
I am a rock sinking in quicksand
I am a broken plate on the floor
Don’t forget we are human”
Founded in 2008, the National Youth Poet Laureate Program (YPL) identifies, celebrates and honors teen poets who exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, youth leadership and social justice.
Learn more at http://www.youthlaureate.org. For more About California Poets in the Schools, visit http://www.californiapoets.org.