The Poetry Foundation awarded Jacqueline Woodson—a prolific and award-winning author of children’s books who received the 2014 National Book Award for young people’s literature for her memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming—with a two-year young people’s poet laureateship, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Poetry Foundation’s description of the role reads: “[T]he young people’s poet laureate aims to raise awareness that young people have a natural receptivity to poetry and are its most appreciative audience, especially when poems are written specifically for them.” The laureateship comes with an award of $25,000, and Woodson will be responsible for implementing projects that ignite interest in poetry among young readers.

In an interview about her new laureateship, Woodson said, “I think one thing I want to do as a young people’s poet laureate is make sure all people know that poetry is a party everyone is invited to. I think many people believe and want others to believe that poetry is for the precious, entitled, educated few. And that’s just not true.”

The Foundation’s president, Robert Polito, praised Woodson for her “elegance” and “daring” in a statement. “So many writers settle on a style and a repertoire of gestures and subjects, but Woodson, like her characters, is always in motion and always discovering something fresh,” he said. “Her gifts, adventurousness, and generosity suggest she will be a terrific young people’s poet laureate.”

Woodson’s many other works portray the experiences of marginalized characters, and include Miracle’s Boys and Each Kindness. She has received several awards for her books, including a Newbery Honor Medal, the Caldecott Medal, and an ALA Notable.