The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) and DIALECT of Prince George’s County Announce New Prince George’s County Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate

Under the leadership of PGAHC and the DIALECT of Prince George’s County, two dynamic poets are set to inspire poetry, creativity, and community engagement across Prince George’s County.

LARGO, MARYLAND, April 2026 — The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) proudly announces Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez as the new Poet Laureate for Prince George’s County and celebrates the selection of Osaze Murray as the 2026 Youth Poet Laureate, chosen through the DIALECT of Prince George’s County’s dynamic Poetry Slam Competition. As the driving force behind the County’s Poet Laureate program, PGAHC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing cultural excellence, while the Youth Poet Laureate program flourishes through a strategic partnership with the DIALECT of Prince George’s County initiative.

Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez is a nationally acclaimed poet, educator, and arts leader whose visionary approach fuses artistic excellence with transformative community impact. Born in Puerto Rico, she holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an M.A. in Public Management with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Maryland.

Tatiana’s artistry has earned fellowships from VONA Voices, Anaphora Arts, and Letras Boricuas, where she refined her voice alongside luminaries such as Willie Perdomo and Danez Smith. Her poetry has resonated on national platforms, including MSNBC’s “Leguizamo Does America” and The Acentos Review. She is the celebrated author of Coconut Curls y Café con Leche (2019), Despojo (2020), and the forthcoming Exhume.

Currently, Tatiana serves as Senior Program Director of Poetry & Community Arts at DC SCORES and inspires as a teaching artist with organizations such as Shout Mouse Press. Her powerful performances and workshops, spanning the United States and international stages, including The Kennedy Center and New York University, have consistently championed marginalized voices and empowered young women of color. Her distinguished accolades include the 2020 Burns Whiskey Poetry Slam Championship and the inaugural 2023 CFA Practitioner Award.

As Youth Poet Laureate, Osaze Murray embodies the rising generation of literary innovators in Prince George’s County. At just 15 years old, this Bowie, Maryland native uncovered his poetic voice in the classroom and has since captivated audiences on both local and national stages.

Osaze’s impressive performances include the Beats vs. Booms Poetry Slam, Comcast Juneteenth Poetry Slam, the PGATI Conference at The Kennedy Center, the opening of the James Baldwin exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, the Kaitz Dinner in New York, and the Maryland Stories Tapestry Gala.

Beyond the stage, Osaze is driven by a deep commitment to service and advocacy. He has championed early childhood education as a preschool summer camp assistant and teacher’s aide and has influenced countywide initiatives as a member of the Student Board advisory council. As Youth Poet Laureate, he is determined to leverage his platform to spotlight urgent issues, such as food deserts and Alzheimer’s disease, drawing inspiration from his lived experiences.

“The Poet Laureate program is a cornerstone of our commitment to literary excellence and civic leadership in Prince George’s County,” said Rhonda Dallas, PGAHC’s CEO and Chief Curator. “With PGAHC’s visionary leadership and DIALECT of Prince George’s County initiative, we are honored to uplift both established and emerging poets who embody the vibrancy, diversity, and aspirations of our communities.”

Throughout their tenure, both laureates will serve as passionate literary ambassadors for Prince George’s County, engaging and inspiring residents through public readings, transformative workshops, and visionary community initiatives that celebrate the power of literary arts, storytelling, cultural expression, and civic dialogue.

For more information about the Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate programs and upcoming events, please click here.