Octavia Ikard named next Madison Youth Poet Laureate
Wisconsin Eagle/10316596

~ On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the City of Madison will welcome its newest Youth Poet Laureate, Octavia Ikard, at an opening reception and poetry reading. The event, organized by Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson and the Madison Arts Commission, will take place at 5:30pm in room 201 of the Madison Municipal Building.

This celebration marks the first public reading for Ikard as the Youth Poet Laureate. Along with her own work, the event will also feature poems from Dawson and Youth Arts Ambassador Dawry Ruiz. Outgoing Youth Poet Laureate Justin Festge Russell will also be sharing some of his work.

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The reception will be followed by a special moment as Ikard reads a poem to open the Madison Common Council Meeting. This is a significant honor for Ikard as she becomes the fourth Youth Poet Laureate for Madison, following in the footsteps of Madeleine Bohn (2022-2023), Maliha Nu'Man (2023-2024), and Justin Festge Russell (2024-2025).

The public is invited to attend this exciting event and support Octavia Ikard as she begins her journey as the new Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Madison. The Madison Municipal Building is located at 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and an elevator is available for access at the Doty Street entrance.

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