WHAT IS 510 JOURNAL?

510 Journal started out as a partnership with the Oakland Public Library’s Youth Poet Laureate Program in 2012, right when Chapter 510 was founded. Each year, until 2020, we commissioned local artist and children’s book author Robert Lui-Trujillo to illustrate a portrait of the Youth Poet Laurette and then created a poster with an excerpt from their winning submission. Thousands of 510 Journals were then printed and distributed to local libraries, schools, community centers, and restaurants.

In 2020, 510 Journal transitioned in to a monthly poem penned by a young writer participating in our programs. Poems were printed as a beautiful letter-pressed card or poster that were available for purchase in our store and sent via email to our community.

This year, we’ve handed 510 Journal to our Youth Advisory Board who are working to transform it into an annual printed litmag (more on that soon!)

Below is the archive of all the 510 Journals from 2014-2023. Click into each to read poetry written by Oakland youth.