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iLEAD Student Named L.A. County Youth Poet Laureate

A student from iLEAD, the parent company for Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi), has been chosen to be the next Youth Poet Laureate in Los Angeles County.


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Mila Cuda, senior at iLEAD North Hollywood, was chosen on June 10, 2017 as the Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate, it was announced by Anne Cochran, iLEAD NoHo’s director.

The Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate is a program of Urban Word Los Angeles supported by Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, Los Angeles Public Library, Beyond Baroque and the Academy of American Poets.

The program aims to identify young writers and leaders who are committed to civic and community engagement, poetry and performance, and Human Relations, Diversity & Social Justice across Los Angeles.

Along with winning the prestigious title of LA Youth Poet Laureate, Mila has won a book deal from Penmanship Books to publish her first collection of poems. She will be awarded numerous opportunities and platforms to share her powerful voice, her leadership, and love of Los Angeles at numerous events across the county.

Local and national partners of the Youth Poet Laureate program also include LA County Commission on Human Relations, LA Public Library, Beyond Baroque, Penmanship Books, the Academy of American Poets, Say Word, Get Lit- Words Ignite, Street Poets, Write Girl, DSTL Arts and 826LA.

For the past three years, Mila has been a key team member of iLEAD NoHo’s twice-first-place-award-winning Get Lit Slam, besting all other high school teams within the Greater Los Angeles Area. Last year she was awarded 2nd place in the poetry slam judged by U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, as well as a representative from National Public Radio.

Her work was later quoted in the Library of Congress Gazette. She is iLEAD NoHo’s Class of ’17 Co-Salutatorian at the learning studio’s graduation ceremony on June 15.

iLEAD NoHo Director Anne Cochran, who is excited about Mila’s accomplishments, said “Mila is a standout in terms of her charisma, freewheeling and creative spirit, and way-beyond-her-years’ intellectuality. She has been conscientious in working at the most challenging tier of course offerings at iLEAD NoHo as she is by nature highly inquisitive and thorough without losing grasp of her natural-born inclination to befriend others from all walks of life.”

“She simply steps up to the plate whenever needed, and leads by example through her down-to-earth intelligence and passion,” said the school’s director. “Mila’s noteworthy extracurricular accomplishments range from her State of California-level wins in Get Lit/spoken word competitions to performances and writing opportunities that includes turns at the Library of Congress and PBS, writing for Maria Shriver’s blog, the Los Angeles Arts Commission, and Gloria Steinem, and so much more.

“Her carefully honed, constantly developing voice is a poised and lively one within the arenas of social justice, youth leadership, queer youth, disabled youth, youth of color,” she said. “It occurs to me that she has a sort of quiet star quality…one I don’t interpret in a ‘Hollywood’ sense, but in whatever-she-chooses-to-do-in-life sort of way.”

“As such, Mila grabs life and lives it as its journey is something she savors at every turn. Also, we are so very grateful for the creative and practical guidance she’s received from iLEAD NoHo’s talented English faculty – Crystal Salas and David Hall.”

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

iLEAD Student Named L.A. County Youth Poet Laureate

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About Devon Miller

Devon Miller was born and raised in Santa Clarita. He joined KHTS Radio as a digital marketing intern in September of 2017, and later moved to news as a staff writer in December. Miller attended College of the Canyons and served as the Associated Student Government President. Miller is now News Director for KHTS, covering breaking news and politics across the Santa Clarita Valley.