Amanda Gorman

Amanda is an American poet/writer and activist who advocates for gender justice, racial equality, and the environment. Writing her own stories from a young age, Amanda became enthralled with poetry and metaphor when her third grade teacher introduced her to them, as a way to express herself and her ideas; all while learning to read and communicate after being diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder and speech articulation struggles in Kindergarten.  In 2017, she became the first National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States.

Gorman's work often explores themes of race, gender, and the American experience; and she uses her platform to inspire younger generations and advocate for social change. In 2021, she became the youngest inaugural poet when she delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb” at then-president Joe Biden’s inauguration. Her education includes a degree from Harvard University where she graduated cum laude and studied sociology, amongst work with the Milken Family Foundation and the Institute for International Education of Students.  She has written for the New York Times and has three, forthcoming books with Penguin Random House. Amanda has performed multiple commissioned poems for CBS This Morning and she has spoken at events and venues across the country, including the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center. She has received a Genius Grant from OZY Media, as well as recognition from Scholastic Inc., YoungArts, the Glamour magazine College Women of the Year Awards, and the Webby Awards, AND penned the manifesto for Nike's 2020 Black History Month campaign.