by Liz Maceda
Several Poetic Justice League students in conversation with Susan Spalt at the 2026 Sam Ragan Awards Day at Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities
Liz spoke with her teachers Ms. Harris and Mr. Murchison about their vision in creating the Poetic Justice League at Carrboro High School. Student Poet Laureate for 2026-2027, Owen Russell, also shared some behind the scenes insight on his craft as well as his vision for the powerful intersection of poetry and community. Thank you to Liz, her teachers and peers for their generous time and thank you again to the PJL members who joined the North Carolina Poetry Society at Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities for our Sam Ragan Awards Day. We look forward to many more moments of sharing poetry, inspiration, and community with all of you!
How did the Poetic Justice League begin?
Many young high school poets don’t have the community they need to meet other young poets. That’s how the Poetic Justice League was created at Carrboro High School-out of a desire to offer young writers the resources to write poetry and a supportive community. Two years ago, Matt Murchison and Raquel Harris began a poet laureate competition at Carrboro High School. Now it has grown into a district initiative involving East High School, Carrboro High School, and Chapel Hill High School.
After last year’s competition, in which Lola King was named Poet Laureate of Carrboro High School, Matt Murchison and Raquel Harris decided that the other nine finalists should form a club to support both the laureate and the mission of activism and enhancing voice through poetry. The Poetic Justice League was formed. Since then the club has grown, according to Raquel Harris:
“We have grown and our purpose has solidified. Our team of dedicated poets now regularly meet, perform in community events, do workshops, visit open mics, and volunteer in speaking and discussion opportunities. See a list of their accomplishments. Though just over a year old, we have genuinely been so inspired by the way our poetic peers have embraced us. We value community over competition and continue to strive to speak truth and love whenever we can.”
Raquel Harris
The finalists from Carrboro High School get the opportunity to have their poetry on display at their school, making it accessible to any student.
One benefit of displaying poetry is that it helps inspire other students, and even teachers, to write poetry. By reading the poetry of their peers, students are encouraged to continue their own poetic journeys. Poetry can also be found outside the creative writing classroom, where a variety of poems await discovery.
Owen Russell: Poet Laureate for Carrboro High School & District Poet Laureate (2026-2027)
Owen Russell is a musician, poet, and junior at Carrboro High School. He’s passionate about social justice and music’s ability to impact and inspire people. He makes music under the name Magpie. Owen recently released his debut album, Nobody We Could Name, which he wrote, produced, and recorded in his bedroom. He is currently working on his second record, a narrative concept album inspired by an Italian opera.
What poem did you submit as your final entry for Poet Laureate? What emotion do you aim to evoke in your reader?
As my final entry for poet laureate, I submitted my poem “Smoke.” It’s a poem that combines storytelling with some broader themes and ideas. With this poem, I wanted to evoke in readers a sense of responsibility, both over our planet and over our society.
How have the PJL workshops benefited members, and which sessions do you consider essential for young poets?
The Poetic Justice League’s workshops have been a great way to connect with the community and spread our love of poetry. I believe that more important than any poetic device or literary skill is the ability and drive to sit down and start writing. To young poets, I would say: write poetry, perform it, share your art with people. Your voice is incredibly powerful.
How do you hope your leadership will impact PJL? Why is community essential to PJL success?
Without community involvement, we’re just a group of friends who love poetry. Our goal is to spread our love of poetry and inspire other people to take up the craft, because great poetry is powerful and capable of creating change. As a leader, my mission is to give people opportunities to be those change makers, and to help my community grow closer and stronger.
What are your duties as Poet Laureate both inside and outside of school?
As Poet Laureate of Carrboro High, I lead Poetic Justice League meetings, help plan and lead poetry events, and represent my school. Beyond that, as District Poet Laureate, my goal is to bring people together with poetry. In particular, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and East Chapel Hill high schools have so many talented poets but rarely work together or collaborate. I want to bring our schools together (with a little healthy competition), because when we work together as poets and as artists, we become greater than the sum of our parts.
What are your goals in the future for the league?
My goal for the Poetic Justice League is to keep making our presence known in the community and bringing poetry to the people. You will see us at open mics, at workshops, at poetry slams, at local events, and more! We want to be there for people and share with them the art that we create.
Thank you, Owen, for taking the time to tell us more about your creative practice and vision.
Additional Poetic Justice League News and Faculty Profiles
Creative writing Gala
In May the many creative achievements of Carrboro Honors Creative Writing III students were celebrated in a gala evening. Creative writing is where many young writers get inspired every day to write. Many members of PJL are also members of creative writing classes, where they learn to expand their knowledge of other types of literature with the help of their teacher, Raquel Harris. Students from her creative writing classes learn to improve their speaking and writing skills, which are essential for their future as writers. The Gala’s goal is to showcase the work students have been creating in order to spread creativity all around the school as well as in their community.
PJL Faculty: Ms. Harris and Mr. Murchison
Raquel Harris is a local author and educator who focuses on the power of community over competition. She is an Executive Committee Member of NC Go Global, and the Outreach Ambassador to Carrboro High School’s Academy of International Studies. She is a regular contributor to Bella Grace Magazine and has a blog where she houses her latest musings, poems, and day-to-day revelations about life and living. Having been in education for over twenty years, Raquel continues to find the greatest inspiration from the brilliant minds of her creative writing students and the ways they continue to redefine what living as a creative really means.
Matt Murchison has been an English teacher at Carrboro High School for 8 years. When he’s not teaching, he’s writing, reading, cooking, biking, practicing kung fu, playing chess, creating things, and spending time with his family. He enjoys working on poetry, short stories, and children’s books.
