Ryan Calkins, a student at Dos Pueblos High School, won 1st place and a check for $250 for her poem “Peace in the Garden” in the Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board 2023 Artists and Authors Showcase.

Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio, left, stands with Dos Pueblos High Principal Bill Woodard, and 1st Place poetry winner Ryan Calkins.
Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio, left, stands with Dos Pueblos High Principal Bill Woodard, and 1st Place poetry winner Ryan Calkins. Credit: Bonnie Carroll

Calkins was presented her award by Judge Melinda Palacio, newly installed 2023 Santa Barbara Poet Laureate. Other presenters were Lucile Vea, Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board vice chair; and Gil and Marti Garcia, Santa Barbara Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities Committee board members.

Peace by Piece Food Security in My Community was the theme for this year’s poetry competition that was open to students ages 13-18.

The Children’s Creative Project (CCP) assisted with the event. Winners are encouraged to enter their winning art and poetry in the upcoming Sister Cities International Competition.

In accepting her award, Calkins expressed her surprise and happiness to be honored with the 1st place poetry prize.

Other winning entries in the poetry event were:

“I am an Oak Tree” by Brock Mitchell, taking 2nd place and $150; and “Counting Pennies” by Penelope Welsh for a $100 prize.

The winning 2023 artists included 1st place, Leighton Willow Smith, $250 prize; 2nd place, April Harper, $150; 3rd place, Sebatian Cadwell, $100 prize.

A collection of art submissions also came from young artists in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with prizes awarded. Michael Long, local Santa Barbara artist, art teacher and arts coordinator with Studio 121 in Santa Barbara judged the entries.

Sister Cities International aims to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. This year’s poetry theme encouraged youth and member communities to submit innovative, thoughtful works to emphasize various aspects of food security, including the impact of climate change on food production and food consumption in their own community.

For moe visit https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/brdcomm/nz/sistercity/cities/default.asp.