Westchester Announces Two New Youth Laureates

Westchester County Executive George Latimer recently announced the appointment of two new Youth Poet Laureates, Alexa Murphy and Harmony Hopwood. These two individuals were elected by the Westchester County Youth Bureau for their exceptional talent and passion for poetry.

Alexa Murphy is a Grade 11 student at the Masters School and a member of the school’s spoken-word poetry group, Outspoken. She says that her experience with the group helped her realize her love for poetry and drove her to become a writer for her school’s newspaper, Tower. As Youth Poet Laureate, Murphy hopes to serve her County and give back to her community.

The other appointee, Harmony Hopwood, is a Grade 9 student at New Rochelle High School. She has always been interested in creating stories, poetry and art. Hopwood believes that these forms of expression provide a window to connect with others.

Says Latimer: “Poetry provides those who enjoy it an outlet to express themselves and better understand the experiences of others through their own expression. Alexa and Harmony embody that spirit, and it was a pleasure to hear their stories and spoken word.”

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 create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. 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. artsw.org