The Gary Youth Poet Laureate Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded by Gary native Akilia McCain, a distinguished career educator and accomplished artist, renowned for her captivating performances as an opera singer. The inspiration for the Foundation struck McCain after listening to a podcast featuring Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, who mesmerized the world with her poignant poetry during the Inauguration of President Joe Biden.

Gary, Indiana, boasts a rich cultural heritage, having nurtured and celebrated legendary artists such as Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Janet Jackson, Deneice Williams, Avery Brooks, Ernest Thomas, Fred Williamson, Jesse Powell, Chester Gregory, William Marshall, and Indiana Poet Laureate Curtis Crisler, among others. In June 2024, the Gary Youth Poet Laureate Society will crown Gary’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, further enriching the city’s artistic legacy.