Annie Castillo is a student poet in the Creative Young Leaders Alliance, a program of the Aspen Institute that provides mentorship and training to the next generation of young arts leaders. A student and writer from Falls Church, VA, she was named National Student Poet for the Southeast region in 2017. During her year as a literary ambassador for poetry, Castillo has advocated for inclusion of poetry in educational settings within her community and the region. In spring 2017, she established an after-school poetry mentorship program at her middle school. Her work often speaks directly to issues including history, politics, her family, and her experiences with chronic and mental illness.
Previously

2018 Festival
Deep Dive: Raising the Roof—Poetry Jam Session
Video — 1h 27m 10s