Charity Yoro, left, with Consuelo Wise, fellow poet and professor at PSU, at the Oregon Book Awards on April 28, 2025 (Courtesy of Charity Yoro).
What began as Charity Yoro's thesis for her MFA in creative writing has now won her an Oregon Book Award.
Yoro, who graduated from Portland State in 2021, took home the 2025 Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry for her debut collection, ten-cent flower & other territories.
"Full body shock," she said. "And I'm still sitting in that place, honestly. What an incredible honor!"
Yoro, who was born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaii, said the book explores the complexities of belonging while navigating themes of erasure, loss of identity and language and selfhood through American imperialism, intimate relationships and early motherhood.
She said many of the poems had been gestating for years prior, but became more developed during her MFA experience. She credits her time at PSU, along with the Tin House Workshop and supportive cohort model at First Matter Press, with influencing the shape the book took in its final form.
"This book feels like my 'first child,' and admittedly, there are elements I feel less connected to at this point in my life—in my post-MFA, little human-raising era," she said. "But I am proud of the risks I took and how I play with form in the collection. I hope readers permit themselves to experiment in their own creative practice."
Yoro started her MFA at the University of San Francisco, and transferred to PSU one year into her program to move with her partner. PSU's faculty came highly recommended from her mentor — and they lived up to the praise.
"Truly, Michele Glazer and John Beer, as well as Janice Lee, Leni Zumas, Justin Hocking, Gabe Urza, the faculty continues to be my favorite part of the program," she says.
And now she's teaching PSU students as an adjunct faculty member.
"It has been a pleasure and honor to teach poetry at PSU — and surprisingly, it has also been quite productive for my own writing practice as well," Yoro said. "I like to think of the classroom as a dynamic place of co-creation."
Her advice for budding poets: "You are a poet, period. And everything is practice. Everything. Keep writing and showing up for your practice."