A Poetic Life: Finding Art in Unexpected Places

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Evan Wang. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

In 2021, when the pandemic sent the world into lockdown, 18-year-old Evan Wang got serious about writing. It’s also the year he helped build the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate Program where he currently serves as the program director. His advocacy to increase engagement in and accessibility to the arts has led him to the Biden White House, NPR and TEDx, but it has also created change on a local level. He reaches out to those who don’t have a platform or who might be hesitant to share their art and creates opportunities for both artists and the community that surrounds them. He teaches his craft, his love for it contagious. And he works with the county library system, government and nonprofits to continue providing ways for aspiring writers to thrive.

Evan has since been named the National Youth Poet Laureate and serves as the only junior board member at the Indian Valley Arts Foundation and as the editor-in-chief for the Hominem Journal, an international arts publication that highlights young creatives. His fundraising efforts have resulted in $40,000 for arts programming in Montgomery County. And his literacy initiatives have reached thousands.

Outside of volunteering, Evan is on a mission to make a career in research and development in the pharmaceutical and public health sectors. This fall, his next adventure begins at Harvard University, where he will be studying biology and creative writing.

What inspires you to volunteer?

It all began in quarantine, when I felt confined to my room. I was just entering high school and wanted to challenge myself to branch out, especially because everything was virtual and felt isolating. I got involved with Planned Parenthood as a national volunteer leader working on vaccine accessibility and addressing misinformation. That was my first contact with volunteer work. I met many other wonderful volunteers, and by seeing my impact, I was also seeing what matters to me.

I’ve created this space for writing for young writers, because my county doesn’t offer arts programming or funding. To see them meet, create art and be inspired by each other… That’s why I continue to do it.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

That was the year I began to take poetry seriously, and Amanda Gorman read her poem at the presidential inauguration. I found out what the position of a Youth Poet Laureate was, and I wanted to have that opportunity to step on stages and read my work. I worked with my teacher to see if there was a program in my county, but we only had one for adults.

In the fall, I attended an open mic hosted by the Poet Laureate of the time and I suggested starting a youth program to the program director. It took about a year of presenting to arts foundations and boards, setting guidelines, and deciding whether to be the director or to be considered for the Youth Poet Laureate position. I decided to throw my name in the ring for the latter and when it launched, I was named honorary Youth Poet Laureate of the county.

Tell us about your volunteer roles with Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate Program, the Valley Arts Foundation, the Hominum Journal and your advocacy for the arts.

Now, as program director, I manage the Poet Laureate’s appearances, bookings and advocacy initiatives. I find local and national organizations to collaborate and host events with. I lead writing workshops and open mics for local writers. When I was a Youth Poet Laureate myself, I organized over 14 writing workshops and open mics at local libraries. I did a countywide library tour. I spoke at universities and elementary schools to motivate people to engage with the literary arts.

Within my county, I have multiple initiatives that raise money for arts programming. One of these is Concert Sundaes. We host a concert at a huge park and raise thousands of dollars from concessions. I also do a lot of administrative work for the program–create designs, maintain the website, manage the social media accounts and more.

The Indian Valley Arts Foundation hosts various initiatives, like building murals and sponsoring Concert Sundaes. As a junior board member, I regulate the budget for the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate Program, because it’s nestled under the foundation. I also support a scholarship initiative for high schoolers engaged with the arts; they pair an established poet to a student, and I help regulate that pairing.
At the Hominum Journal, we don’t publish solely poets and writers; we also highlight artists and playwrights. We’ve reached over 100,000 readers in a year, and I manage an editorial staff of 26.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I was the first poet featured at a local arts festival. Since then, they’ve been inviting poets back every year. My county also does a pride flag raising ceremony and I was, again, the first poet featured. The reading was so successful that in every subsequent year, they’ve invited a queer poet back. That lasting impact is so important to me. It’s opening the door for people after me. And, with my work with the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate Program, seeing how many people show up to readings is inspiring.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I have to remind myself to stay ambitious, because poetry and the arts are inherently adult-dominated industries. There are going to be a lot of people telling you no. But if I wasn’t ambitious, I wouldn’t be here today.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

Even if you come from a community where there aren’t a lot of artists or opportunities, you can make a future for yourself. It takes a lot of work, and there won’t necessarily be large organizational support behind you, but the community will support you as you support it. And never expect an audience for your work. Once you have that in your mind, every opportunity to showcase your work is a beautiful experience.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Evan? Find local volunteer opportunities.