Their stories rise from Muni rides, kitchen-table memories, ancestral echoes, and the bold promise of tomorrow. Supported by 826 VALENCIA, an organization dedicated to amplifying student voices through writing; YOUTH SPEAKS, a national leader in spoken word and youth empowerment; and URBAN WORD, the organization that anchors the national Youth Poet Laureate movement, these poets stand rooted in a tradition of storytelling that stretches far beyond San Francisco. With additional support from the SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY, a civic home for free expression, and the MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SAN FRANCISCO, whose partnership makes this citywide recognition possible, these young writers embody the depth of one of the most diverse and progressive cities in the world.

This year's Cohort gathered to learn, question, and grow as both poets and leaders, stepping into spaces that have not always made room for them, and claiming their place with clarity and courage. Their poems speak to survival, self-love, community, and legacy. Together, their voices form the heartbeat of I Can Feel You Across the Seas, reminder that when a city believes in its young people, their stories can resonate across states, nations, and oceans, carrying the beauty of their lineage and the promise of who they are becoming.