MONTEREY COUNTY — Arts Council for Monterey County has named Pacific Grove High School student Anton MacLachlan as the 2026-27 Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate, recognizing the young poet’s artistic achievements and commitment to community engagement.
MacLachlan officially begins his one-year term July 1 and will participate in countywide events promoting poetry and literacy while receiving a $1,000 honorarium.
Applicants for the Youth Poet Laureate program submitted a resume, statements on civic engagement and social justice, and five original poems. A panel of judges evaluated submissions based on content, theme, voice, structure and community impact.
This year’s judging panel included Dr. Chrissy Hernandez, poet and professor; Monterey County Poet Laureate Marie Boucher; and Jesus Valenzuela, community schools coordinator for Steinbeck Elementary School in Salinas.
Arts4MC also recognized runner-up Asia Bonney of Carmel High School and Merani Navarro Delgadillo of North Monterey County High School. Honorable mentions were awarded to Alina Milet Alvarez Lepe of North Salinas High School, Victoria Nuñez-Lazaro of Big Sur and Emory Teta of York School.
“Our youth carry powerful stories, perspectives and creativity that deserve to be heard,” said Jacquie Atchison, executive director of Arts4MC. “The Youth Poet Laureate program creates opportunities for young people to share their voices, inspire empowering conversations and strengthen community through storytelling, creativity and connection.”
Throughout his term, MacLachlan will collaborate with Boucher, the county’s current Poet Laureate, to organize and participate in events and presentations promoting poetry, spoken word and youth expression throughout the region.
MacLachlan was formally recognized June 9 by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, which presented him with a resolution honoring his appointment as the county’s newest Youth Poet Laureate. Later that day, he was celebrated during a commencement ceremony at the Marina Library Community Room, where he and five other youth poets performed.
Born in El Salvador, MacLachlan spent his early childhood living with his family in Malta and China before moving to New Jersey. He discovered his love of music, dancing, languages and math at a young age and began writing poetry during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2025, he moved to Pacific Grove and enrolled at Pacific Grove High School. Since then, he has appeared in two school musicals and performs with the school’s orchestra, jazz band and choir. He also sings with the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star Vocal Ensemble, plays piano with the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star Big Band and is rehearsing for his third musical with Pacific Repertory Theatre in Carmel.
The Monterey County Youth Poet Laureate program is organized by Arts4MC in collaboration with Urban Word and is officially recognized by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. More information about the Youth Poet Laureate program is available at arts4mc.org/youth-poet-laureate.
