Five things to know about Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration

Young Achiever

In 2014, when Gorman was just 16 years old, she became the youngest Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. Then in 2017, she became the first national youth poet laureate.

“Being a Youth Poet Laureate is similar to being a Poet Laureate,” she explained. “You bring your youth into the platform of poetry. You’re not just an ambassador for poetry. You’re making sure young voices are represented in the field of literature.”

She is the founder and Executive Director of One Pen One Page, an organization that promotes literacy among the youth through their free creative writing programming for under-served youth. Gorman is also a HERlead Fellow in Washington, D.C. and London, England, and a UN Youth Delegate in New York City.

She has shared platforms with Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Morgan Freeman and Lin-Manuel Miranda and has received numerous awards and certifications including recognition from the Scholastic Inc. and YoungArts among others.