Title
Special Recognition - Poetry Reading from City of Olympia Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a poetry reading from City of Olympia Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a poetry reading from Olympia's Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Ashly McBunch, Olympia Poet Laureate
Background and Analysis:
Part of the work of Olympia's Poet Laureate is to present a poem at a January City Council meeting of each year. Since their appointment as Poet Laureate in April 2021, Ashly has worked to fulfill the goals of the Poet Laureate program:
* Promote poetry as an art form
* Expand access to the literary arts
* Connect the community to poetry
* Promote poetry as a community voice that contributes to a sense of place
* And to address this term's theme of equity and inclusion
In 2021, McBunch:
* Partnered with the Olympia Timberland Library to create a bookmark for the opening of the Capital Mall library branch.
* Launched an interactive online poetry site called "Creative Branches"
* Conducted an online Zoom poetry workshop focusing on abstract art and poetry
* Hosted poetry activities in City parks
* Created and shared poetry at the dedication of "A Story Place" at LBA Park
* Hosted an "Art Break" during a community City arts planning meeting
In addition, Ashly has worked with local organizations such as the Hands On Children Museum, Arbutus Folk School and Enterprise for Equity, created poems for different statewide organizations such as Rainbow Alliance & Inclusion Network andhas connected with students and local organizations speaking about the art of poetry.
The success of the "Art Break" and the potential for poetry to provide support and healing around challenging topics has led to engag...
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