List of municipal poets laureate in California

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

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Albany

• Christina Hutchins (2008-2012)
• Toby Bielawski (2012-2016)
• Rebecca Black (2016 - 2018) [1]

Benicia

• Joel Fallon (2006-2008) [2]
• Robert Shelby (2008-2010) [3]
• Ronna Leon (2010-2012)
• Lois Requist (2012-2014)
• Don Peery (2014-2016)
• Johanna Ely (2016-2018) [4]
• Tom Stanton (2018-2020) [5]
• Mary Susan Gast (2020-2022) [6]

El Cerrito

• Maw Shein Win (2016 - 2018) [7]
• Danielle “Dani” Gabriel (2018 - 2020)[8]

Livermore

• Connie Post (2005-2009)[9]

Los Angeles

• Eloise Klein Healy (2012-2014)[10]
• Luis J. Rodriguez (2014-2017)[10]
• Robin Coste Lewis (2017-2019)[10]

Richmond

• Dwayne Parish (2012-2014)
• Lincoln Bergman (2014 - 2016)[11] (concurrent)
• Donté Clark (2014-2016)[11] (concurrent)
• Brenda Quintanilla (2014 - 2016)[11] (concurrent)
• Daniel Ari (2017 - 2019)[12] (concurrent)
• Ciera-Jevai Gordon (2017 - 2019)[12] (concurrent)
• Rob Lipton (2017 - 2019)[12] (concurrent)

Sacramento

• Dennis Schmitz (2000-2002)[13][14] (concurrent)
• Viola Weinberg (2000-2002)[13][14] (concurrent)
• José Montoya (2002-2004)[13]
• Julia Connor (2005-2009)[13]
• Bob Stanley (2009-2012)[13]
• Jeff Knorr (2012-2015)[13]
• Indigo Moor (2017-2019)[13]

San Francisco

• Lawrence Ferlinghetti [15]
• Janice Mirikitani [15]
• Devorah Major[15]
• Jack Hirschman [15]
• Diane di Prima [15]
• Alejandro Murguía [15]
• Kim Shuck [15]

Vallejo

• Genea Brice (2015-2017)[16]
• D.L. Lang (2017-2019)[17]
• Jeremy Snyder (2020-2022)[18]

Counties

Kern County

• Matthew Woodman (2019 - 2020)

Napa County

• Beclee Wilson (2015-2017)[19]
• Jeremy Benson (2017-2021)[19]

Nevada County

• Molly Fisk[20]

San Mateo County

• Aileen Cassinetto [21]

References

1. "Albany names resident as new poetry ambassador," East Bay Times. September 28, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2019.
2. Sestanovich, Nick (14 August 2016). "Joel Fallon, Benicia's first poet laureate, dies". Benicia Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
3. "Benicia selects new poet laureate". Vallejo Times Herald. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
4. "Bio: Johanna Ely, Benicia Poet Laureate". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
5. "Benicia's Newest Poet Laureate Discusses His Multifaceted Role". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
6. Kusic, Galen (1 Oct 2020). "Benicia Public Library announces 2020-2022 Poet Laureate". Benicia Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
7. Radin, Rick (17 August 2016). "El Cerrito names first poet laureate". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
8. "Danielle 'Dani' Gabriel Is El Cerrito’s 2nd Poet Laureate," Oakland News Now. Aug 22, 2018. Updated Dec 29, 2018. Accessed Oct 15, 2019.
9. "Former Livermore Poet Laureate Receives Award". The Independent. August 11, 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
10. 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.
11. "Richmond selects three poets laureate for 2017-2019". Richmond Standard. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
12. "Richmond selects three poets laureate for 2017-2019". Richmond Standard. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
13. "Past Poets Laureate". Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
14. "|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.
15. "San Francisco Poet Laureate :: San Francisco Public Library". sfpl.org. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
16. Widjojo, Irma (2015-07-28). "Vallejo woman named cities first poet laureate". Retrieved 15 October 2019.
17. "Feb 7 Arts and Entertainment: Poet Laureate enjoys first year". timesheraldonline.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
18. "Jeremy Snyder is named Vallejo's 3rd Poet Laureate". Vallejo Times-Herald. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
19. "New poet laureate named for Napa County". Napa Valley Register. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
20. "About Molly Fisk". Academy of American Poets. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
21. Klearman, Sarah (18 Mar 2019). "Well-versed: Meet the Poet Laureate of San Mateo County". The Six Fifty. Retrieved 15 October 2019.