Amanda Gorman on Apr 30, 2024 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

“Poetry has never been the language of barriers. It’s always been the language of bridges.” – Amanda Gorman

Heralded as the voice of her generation, poet and activist Amanda Gorman empowers people across the globe with an undeniable message about the power of using your voice to make a difference. Gorman made history as the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States and is celebrated for her commitment to advocating for the environment, racial equality and gender justice. She became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history with her groundbreaking performance of her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. She opened the 2022 U.N. General Assembly week with a poem about the climate crisis, performed her empowering poem “We Rise” at Variety’s Power of Women event, ignited the Forbes Women’s Summit and became the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl. With her message of hope, resilience and healing, Gorman serves as an inspiration to change the world for the better.