List of municipal poets laureate in California

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021)

This is a list of past and current municipal poets laureate serving towns, counties, and cities in California.

Tongo Eisen-Martin is poet laureate of San Francisco.

Cities

Albany

  • Christina Hutchins (2008-2012)[1]
  • Toby Bielawski (2012-2016)[1]
  • Rebecca Black (2016 - 2018) [2][1]
Jack Hirschman was poet laureate of San Francisco in 2006.

Anaheim

  • Grant Heir (2018-2020)
  • Wendy Van Camp (2022-2024)

Benicia

  • Joel Fallon (2006-2008) [3]
  • Robert Shelby (2008-2010) [4]
  • Ronna Leon (2010-2012)
  • Lois Requist (2012-2014)
  • Don Peery (2014-2016)
  • Johanna Ely (2016-2018) [5]
  • Tom Stanton (2018-2020) [6]
  • Mary Susan Gast (2020-2023) [7]
  • Kathy Monroe (2024)

El Cerrito

  • Maw Shein Win (2016 - 2018) [8]
  • Danielle “Dani” Gabriel (2018 - 2020)[9]
  • Eevelyn Mitchell (2021-2023)[10][11][12][1]

Fairfield

  • Juanita J. Martin (2010-2012)[13][14]
  • Bonnie DiMichele (2020-2022)[15]
  • Suzanne Bruce (2022-2024)[16]

Fresno

  • James Tyner (2013-2015) [17]
  • Lee Herrick (2015-2017) [17]
  • S. Bryan Medina (2017-2019) [17]
  • Marisol Baca (2019-2021)[17]
  • Megan Anderson Bohigian (2021-2023)[17]
Benicia Poet Laureate Joel Fallon

Livermore

  • Connie Post (2005-2009)[18]
  • Cher Wollard (2009-2013)[19]
  • Kevin Gunn (2013-2017)[20]
  • Cynthia Patton (2017-2022)[20][21]
  • Peggy Schimmelman (2022–present) [21]

Los Angeles

  • Eloise Klein Healy (2012-2014)[22]
  • Luis J. Rodriguez (2014-2017)[22]
  • Robin Coste Lewis (2017-2019)[22]
  • Lynne Thompson (2021-2022)[23]
Vallejo Poet Laureate Jeremy Snyder

Richmond

  • Dwayne Parish (2012-2014)[24]
  • Lincoln Bergman (2014 - 2016)[25] (concurrent)
  • Donté Clark (2014-2016)[25] (concurrent)
  • Brenda Quintanilla (2014 - 2016)[25] (concurrent)
  • Daniel Ari (2017 - 2019)[25] (concurrent)
  • Ciera-Jevai Gordon (2017 - 2019) (concurrent)
  • Rob Lipton (2017 - 2019)[26][25] (concurrent)
  • David Flores (2021-2023)[27][28]
Kim Shuck was Poet Laureate of San Francisco in 2017.

Sacramento

  • Dennis Schmitz (2000-2002)[29][30] (concurrent)
  • Viola Weinberg (2000-2002)[29][30] (concurrent)
  • José Montoya (2002-2004)[29]
  • Julia Connor (2005-2009)[29]
  • Bob Stanley (2009-2012)[29]
  • Jeff Knorr (2012-2015)[29]
  • Indigo Moor (2017-2019)[29]
  • Andru Defeye (2020-2022)[31]

San Francisco

Barry Spacks was poet laureate of Santa Barbara in 2005.

Santa Barbara

D.L. Lang was poet laureate of Vallejo in 2017.

Vallejo

Counties

Kern County

  • Don Thompson (2016-2019)[42]
  • Matthew Woodman (2019–2024)[43]
  • Samuel Rain Benjamin (2024-present)

Lake County

  • Jim Lyle (1998-2002)[44]
  • James BlueWolf (2002-2004)[44]
  • Carolyn Wing Greenlee (2004-2006)[44]
  • Sandra Wade (2006-2008)[44]
  • Mary McMillan (2008-2010)[44]
  • Russell Gonzaga (2010-2012)[44]
  • Elaine Watt (2012-2014)[44]
  • Casey Carney (2014-2016)[44]
  • Julie Adams (2016-2018)[44]
  • Richard Schmidt (2018-2020)[44]
  • Georgina Marie Guardado (2020-2023)[44]

Marin County

Napa County

  • Beclee Wilson (2015-2017)[48]
  • Jeremy Benson (2017-2021)[48]
  • Marianne Lyon (2021-2022)[49]

Nevada County

Santa Clara County

  • Nils Peterson (2009-2011)
  • Sally Ashton (2011-2013)
  • David Perez (2014-2015)
  • Arlene Biala (2016-2017)
  • Mike McGee (2018-2019)
  • Janice Sapigao (2020-2021)
  • Tshaka Campbell (2022-2023)

San Mateo County

  • Caroline Goodwin (2014 – 2016)[51]
  • Lisa Rosenberg (2017 – 2018)[51]
  • Aileen Cassinetto (2019 – 2022)[52][53]

Notes

1.^ Eevelyn Mitchell's term as poet laureate was extended to a third year in August of 2022.[54]

References

  1. ^ a b c "City News | City of Albany, CA". www.albanyca.org.
  2. ^ "Albany names resident as new poetry ambassador," East Bay Times. September 28, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Sestanovich, Nick (14 August 2016). "Joel Fallon, Benicia's first poet laureate, dies". Benicia Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Benicia selects new poet laureate". Vallejo Times Herald. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Bio: Johanna Ely, Benicia Poet Laureate". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Benicia's Newest Poet Laureate Discusses His Multifaceted Role". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  7. ^ Kusic, Galen (1 Oct 2020). "Benicia Public Library announces 2020-2022 Poet Laureate". Benicia Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  8. ^ Radin, Rick (17 August 2016). "El Cerrito names first poet laureate". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Danielle 'Dani' Gabriel Is El Cerrito’s 2nd Poet Laureate," Oakland News Now. Aug 22, 2018. Updated Dec 29, 2018. Accessed Oct 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Current Poet Laureate | El Cerrito, CA - Official Website". www.el-cerrito.org.
  11. ^ "El Cerrito Poet Laureate Program | El Cerrito, CA - Official Website". www.el-cerrito.org.
  12. ^ "[https://www.postnewsgroup.com/el-cerrito-poet-laureate-eevelyn-mitchell El Cerrito Poet Laureate Eevelyn Mitchell ]" by Christy Price, Post Group News. July 2, 2021. Accessed January 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Maginnis-Honey, Amy. "Poet laureate visits Wednesday Club to share her new book". Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  14. ^ Maginnis-Honey, Amy (6 November 2010). "City names 1st poet laureate" (PDF). Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  15. ^ "National Volunteer Appreciation Week - April 17-23, 2022". City of Fairfield. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  16. ^ "City of Fairfield names Suzanne Bruce as poet laureate for two-year term". City of Fairfield. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Fresno State Alumna Named Fifth Fresno Poet Laureate". Fresno State News. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Former Livermore Poet Laureate Receives Award". The Independent. August 11, 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  19. ^ "East meets West at Livermore arts exhibit". December 26, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "New Livermore Poet Laureate". The Independent. 30 May 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Poet Laureate | Livermore, CA". www.livermoreca.gov.
  22. ^ a b c Wick, Julia. "This Compton Native Is L.A.'s New Poet Laureate". LAist. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Lynne Thompson: Los Angeles Poet Laureate | Los Angeles Public Library". www.lapl.org.
  24. ^ Hobbs, Stephen (September 10, 2012). "A night of poetry". Richmond Confidential.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Richmond selects three poets laureate for 2017-2019". Richmond Standard. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  26. ^ Ricardo, Tova (August 15, 2019). "One of Richmond's favorite poets keeps hope alive in face of conflict". J.
  27. ^ Aldax, Mike (November 15, 2021). "David Flores selected as Richmond's poet laureate". Richmond Standard.
  28. ^ "City Names Poet Laureates For 2021-2023 Term". SFGATE. November 16, 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g "Past Poets Laureate". Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Dennis Schmitz dies at 82 – the author and professor was Sacramento’s first poet laureate" by Vincent Moleski, Sacramento Bee. 18 Sept. 2018. Accessed 18 Jan. 2020.
  31. ^ Poets, Academy of American. "Poet Laureate of Sacramento, CA | Academy of American Poets". poets.org.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h "San Francisco Poet Laureate :: San Francisco Public Library". sfpl.org. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Santa Barbara Poet Laureate :: Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture". Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Poet Barry Spacks Dies" By Matt Kettmann, Santa Barbara Independent Jan 29, 2014 https://www.independent.com/2014/01/29/poet-barry-spacks-dies/
  35. ^ "The S.B. Questionnaire: David Starkey". 26 September 2016.
  36. ^ "New Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Laure-Anne Bosselaar" by Nancy Rodriguez, Santa Barbara Independent April 1, 2019 https://www.independent.com/2019/04/01/new-santa-barbara-poet-laureate-laure-anne-bosselaar/
  37. ^ "Emma Trelles to Become City of Santa Barbara's Next Poet Laureate" Santa Barbara Independent April 05, 2021 https://www.independent.com/2021/04/05/emma-trelles-to-become-city-of-santa-barbaras-next-poet-laureate/
  38. ^ Widjojo, Irma (2015-07-28). "Vallejo woman named cities first poet laureate". The Washington Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  39. ^ "Feb 7 Arts and Entertainment: Poet Laureate enjoys first year". timesheraldonline.com. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  40. ^ "Jeremy Snyder is named Vallejo's 3rd Poet Laureate". Vallejo Times-Herald. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  41. ^ "Two women to serve as Vallejo's poets laureate". Fairfield Daily Republic. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  42. ^ Ardis, Kelly (23 April 2016). "Meet Kern's first poet laureate". The Bakersfield Californian.
  43. ^ Californian, Carla Joy Martin For The (6 April 2022). "Portia Choi a champion for local poets". The Bakersfield Californian.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Larson, Elizabeth (15 March 2020). "Guardado named Lake County's 11th poet laureate". Lake County News. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d "Marin's Next Poet Laureate: Prartho Sereno". www.marincounty.org.
  46. ^ "Rebecca Foust Named County's 5th Poet Laureate". www.marincounty.org.
  47. ^ "Marin County Poet Laureate - Marin Poetry Center".
  48. ^ a b "New poet laureate named for Napa County". Napa Valley Register. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  49. ^ Yune, Howard (21 March 2021). "Marianne Lyon, music teacher who turned to verse, named Napa County's poet laureate". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  50. ^ "About Molly Fisk". Academy of American Poets. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  51. ^ a b "Past Laureates – San Mateo County Poet Laureate".
  52. ^ Klearman, Sarah (18 Mar 2019). "Well-versed: Meet the Poet Laureate of San Mateo County". The Six Fifty. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  53. ^ "Current Laureate – San Mateo County Poet Laureate".
  54. ^ Minutes of the regular meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission: Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. via teleconference.. Accessed January 25, 2023.

See also

  • iconPoetry portal