(Photo credit: Stephen Cherry)
Howard County Poetry & Literature Society, HoCoPoLitSo, this year celebrates its 50th anniversary of presenting writers— from the internationally renowned to emerging locals— here in Howard County to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The first step toward that achievement began on November 19th, 1974, when poets Lucille Clifton and Carolyn Kizer read from their work to students at Wilde Lake High School, and in the incredible half-century since that day, of all the many services HoCoPoLitSo is privileged to provide the community, we remain perhaps most proud of our student and youth-focused programming and close partnerships with local schools, including Howard County Public School System and Howard Community College.
In addition to welcoming student attendees at all events, HoCoPoLitSo each year provides for an active professional writer to take part in a residency in Howard County, visiting students for readings and workshops in their classrooms. More than 30 authors of diverse backgrounds have taken part in what is today the Bauder Writer-in-Residence Program; after a recent visit by Tope Folarin, the current resident, one student said:
About a third of the way into his speech, all I could think was ‘man, what an absolute badass.’ That guy was awesome, I’m super proud to have gotten to hear from someone like him. [Tope’s] statement of ‘I’ve got to open this door or die trying’ is exactly the kind of drive people need in life, and seeing someone who had a life full of that idea is absolutely amazing. It’s an aspect everyone needs in life, without a doubt. I wish we got to have more people giving talks like that at school [. . .] I hope he keeps on going like this.
To further encourage young writers, HoCoPoLitSo annually presents awards to student honorees of—
All-County Writing Competition — due March 31, 2025
Since 1981, HoCoPoLitSo hosts this annual writing contest open to current Howard County high school students, accepting entries across four categories: poetry, personal essay, short story, and short play. Students submit their own work; there is no entry fee, and students may enter in as many categories as they wish.
Submissions are open NOW, and close on March 31, 2025.
Promise & Achievement in Language Arts — due April 15, 2025
Through this annual partnership between HoCoPoLitSo and Howard County Public School System, English department Instructional Team Leaders nominate students at their schools to receive award. If you are a county educator who has not received communication on how to nominate students, please contact info@hocopolitso.org or 443-518-4568.
Nominations are open NOW, and close on April 15, 2025.
The students selected for awards receive personally-selected books tailored to their literary interests, presented by HoCoPoLitSo board members or affiliates at each school’s summer award and graduation ceremonies. A full list of the past year’s honorees is available in the HoCoPoLitSo Annual Report. In an interview with Business Monthly in 2024, Miriam Roy, a student recipient of award for Promise & Achievement in Language Arts then at Long Reach High School, said:
It was a lovely surprise to receive an award for my love of literature. I have always enjoyed reading literature and writing poetry since the beginning of middle school so receiving the award was a wonderful experience.
More recently, starting in fall of 2023, HoCoPoLitSo has partnered with Howard County Arts Council and Howard County Government through the office of County Executive Calvin Ball, to implement the first-ever offices of Howard County Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate. Following the appointment of Mai-Anh Nguyen, then a student at Oakland Mills High School, as the inaugural Howard County Youth Poet Laureate, applications are now open for the second term of this one-year honorary position:
Howard County Youth Poet Laureate — due May 9, 2025
The role of Howard County Youth Poet Laureate is an honorary position formally appointed by the County Executive at the recommendation of a review panel coordinated by HoCoPoLitSo. Candidates submit their own application, with supporting recommendations; eligible candidates are aged 14–21, and either reside in or will be able to present at in-person events in Howard County throughout the one-year term. The next Youth Poet Laureate will serve from September 2025 to July 2026, and receives an honorarium of $500.
Applications are open NOW, and close on May 9, 2025.
The current Howard County Youth Poet Laureate, Mai-Anh Nguyen, will read at HoCoPoLitSo’s Wilde Reading Series in June.
HoCoPoLitSo 