Rishi Janakiraman
Raleigh,NC
Summary
Award-winning poet and journalist based in Raleigh, NC advocating for important causes (marginalized communities, anti-bullying reporting) and youth involvement in the arts. Demonstrated ability to lead workshops, manage projects, and secure funding for meaningful initiatives, including a $10,000 grant for an LGBTQ+ youth anthology.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
NC Youth Poet Laureate
Urban Word Media
Raleigh, NC
04.2025 - Current
- Composed original poetry and essays for solicited publication at WALTER Magazine, Rust + Moth, The Poetry Society, and Poetry Daily, among others.
- Performed poetry at various venues, including the Governor's Mansion, the West End Poetry Festival, the Drakeford Library Complex, and NC State's creative writing summer program.
- Led workshops for middle schoolers at Eva Perry Regional Library's Inkwell Writing Workshop; led an ekphrastic poetry workshop for high schoolers at the West End Poetry Festival.
- Recognized as one of 4 regional finalists to the National Youth Poet Laureate / the Southern ambassador for the Youth Poet Laureate program; will perform poetry in Omaha, NE in April 2026
Editor-in-Chief; LGBTQ+ Anthology Grant Leader
Polyphony Lit
08.2023 - Current
- Four years of editorial experience working at Polyphony Lit, an international youth-run magazine; currently the magazine's Editor-in-Chief
- Applied for and was awarded a $10,000 It Gets Better Changemakers national grant to manage and organize an anthology of LGBTQ+ youth writing and distribute it to schools and libraries nationally
- Editing submissions, creating the volume in InDesign, and coordinating the anthology's distribution to 75 rural schools nationally.
Editor-in-Chief
OHS Observer
08.2023 - Current
- Awarded 3 Best of SNO distinctions (top 10% of all online high school journalism nationally); featured in The New York Times after winning their review contest (11 winners out of ~3,000 submissions)
- Lead a team of staff writers and associate editors to publish work on a monthly publication cycle, reporting on harassment, bullying, and school policy, of which one has prompted administrative action
Education
High School Diploma -
Stanford Online High School
Remote06-2027
Journalism
Asian American Journalism Association (AAJA) JCamp
Seattle, WA08-2025
Skills
- Creative writing
- Journalism
- Editorial management
- Project management
- Workshop facilitation
- Grant writing
Accomplishments
National Student Poet of the Southeast—1 of 5 National Student Poets selected out of >37,000 eligible; $5,000 scholarship with Carnegie Hall performance and community service project
Timeline
NC Youth Poet Laureate
Urban Word Media
04.2025 - Current
Editor-in-Chief; LGBTQ+ Anthology Grant Leader
Polyphony Lit
08.2023 - Current
Editor-in-Chief
OHS Observer
08.2023 - Current
High School Diploma -
Stanford Online High School
Journalism
Asian American Journalism Association (AAJA) JCamp