Paij Rhymes, an 18-year-old graduate from the Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, was crowned the first-ever Gary Youth Poet Laureate on June 23.
One of three finalists, Rhymes emerged victorious over first runner-up Aniya Roy, a freshman at the Steel City School, and second runner-up Kianah Levi King, a Portage High graduate.
“Being crowned the Youth Poet Laureate means that I could actually make a change through my poetry. It means that I could help mentor other kids to do the same,” Rhymes said.
Rhymes is a volunteer with AmeriCorps and the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District. She has led classes at the Marshall J. Gardner Center and recently held a poetry reading there.
Rhymes will receive a $500 grant, with Roy and King receiving $250 and $150 respectively.
Rhymes is also set to perform at the 2nd Annual Classic Chrysanthemum Concerto on Sept. 15 in Miller with Indiana Poet Laureate Curtis L. Crisler.
The concert will be recorded and televised on Lakeshore Public Media this fall.
Additionally, Rhymes will have the opportunity to compete in regional and national competitions organized by UrbanWord NYC, the parent organization of the Gary Youth Poet Laureate Society, founded by Akilia McCain, an opera singer who served on the Gary School Board and Gary Library Board.
The competition was judged by Crisler, Lydia Johnson, a published poet and Gary native, and Dr. Camea Davis, the Youth Poet Laureate Director of Urban Word NYC.