Marjan Naderi

Marjan Naderi, the 2020 D.C. Youth Poet Laureate, is an Afghan-American writer and educator based in Washington, D.C. As an 8-time Poetry Grand Slam Champion, Naderi has been featured by The United Nations, NPR, Nike, and more. Her writing has been recognized by The Adroit Journal, Brave New Voices, The Split This Rock Poetry Database, and The National YoungArts Foundation where she was nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts Award. Her first chapbook, Bloodline, was released in 2019.

As an educator, Naderi has facilitated writing workshops across the nation. She’s taught Quranic Studies at The Afghan Academy and founded the Washington International Academy Library. She’s currently working with international non-profits to build schools and libraries in Afghanistan and The Gambia. Her work is featured in curricula including Fairfax County Public Schools, Bryant University, The University of Virginia, and L.M.S. Voice.

Naderi, 20, now attends The University of Virginia. She’s currently working on her next chapbook, a memoir to Afghanistan. Visit her website for more: www.marjanxpoetry.com