Your Words. His Legacy. Our Future.
2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Student Poetry Contest is presented by
The MLK Celebration Committee, WE GOT THIS LB Cares, Friends of MLK Park, and the Office of City Councilmember Suely Saro, District 7.
Calling all young poets, dreamers, and changemakers in Long Beach!
Long Beach students in grades K–12 are invited to celebrate the life, teachings, and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through the power of poetry.
Dr. King dreamed of a world rooted in justice, equality, peace, and unity. Now it's your turn to share your vision!
Who Can Enter?
All students in grades K–12 who attend a school in Long Beach or are homeschooled in Long Beach.
Contest Guidelines
Write an original poem inspired by Dr. King's teachings, work, and legacy.
Keep your poem to 200 words or fewer.
Express your creativity, perspective, and hopes for a better world.
How Will Poems Be Judged?
Entries will be evaluated on creativity and originality, as well as how thoughtfully they reflect Dr. King's teachings, work, and legacy.
Submission Deadline: Monday, January 4, 2027, at 11:59 PM
Whether you're writing your very first poem or have been writing for years, your words matter. Let your imagination soar, lift your voice, and help carry Dr. King's dream forward.
Honor the legacy. Share your voice. Inspire the future.
