Greenburgh Names Asa Miller as Its First Youth Poet Laureate

The Town of Greenburgh’s Arts and Culture Committee has appointed Asa Miller as its first Youth Poet Laureate. The 16-year-old junior at Edgemont High School will serve a two-year term, spanning from September 2023 to September 2025. Miller was formally inaugurated at the Greenburgh Town Board Meeting earlier this month.

In this esteemed role, Miller will help to creating avenues for young talents in Greenburgh to explore the realm of poetry and encourage poetry as a catalyst for conversation. This will include encouraging other youth to craft original verses and to present them in diverse forms.

Says Miller: “My mission is to get the diverse community of Greenburgh teens excited about poetry. To do so, I will develop a strategy with Sarah Bracey White, the executive director of Greenburgh’s Arts and Culture Committee.”

But that’s not all—Greenburgh’s new Youth Poet Laureate’s passion for the arts runs deep. He is also a classical pianist and documentary filmmaker. In his role as Youth Poet Laureate of Greenburgh, he has several ideas to engage the community. They include a poetry contest, workshops, and readings at events.

The honors student embarked on his poetic journey at the age of eight when his poem, “Fishkill Farms,” won an all-expense-paid trip for his entire class. Since then, his poetry and short stories have been published in numerous publications. Additionally, his literary acumen earned him a spot attending the 2023 Young Authors Conference for Westchester and Putnam Counties.

This Greenburgh initiative is one of several in the county that are bringing poetry to the fore. Yonkers appointed a Poet Laureate last year and, in addition to two Youth Laureates appointed for the County, a call is out for applications as ArtsWestchester helps the County to seek and appoint the next Westchester County Poet Laureate.

As current Westchester Poet Laureate BK Fischer leaves the post after her three-year term, the county encourages interested poets to apply by October 1. Fischer’s culminating project, a documentary about the ecology-focused workshop series she organized during her time in the role, will premiere next month.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.