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
![Deep Dive: Raising the Roof—Poetry Jam Session](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/a9a4b684-44cd-4032-a577-1e54cd4e05ee/42305598314_bb56d0c868_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=225&q=80&rect=0%2C502%2C6016%2C3389&w=400)
The Poetry Jam Session brings together some of the nation’s leading young poets for a spirited 80-minutes of cross-disciplinary performance, collaboration, and discussion. Lyr...