Title
Special Recognition - Poetry Reading from City of Olympia Poet Laureate Kathleen Byrd
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a poetry reading from City of Olympia Poet Laureate Kathleen Byrd.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a poetry reading from Olympia Poet Laureate Kathleen Byrd.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Kathleen Byrd, 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 appointment as Poet Laureate in July 2023, Ms. Byrd 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
* To address this term's theme to utilize the power of poetry and language to contribute to thoughtful response and centering around our environment and climate change.
Since 2023, Byrd has:
* Been a featured reader at the Olympia Poetry Network
* Conducted a Climate Writing Workshop with Thurston Youth Climate Coalition
* Coordinated a collaborative event with Paintings and Poetry at the Spring 2024 Arts Walk
* Participated in the 2024 Washington Center Salon
* Conducted a poetry reading at the Fall 2024 Arts Walk
* Facilitated 5 poetry reading groups
o Fall 2023 | The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon
o Winter 2024 | Trophic Cascade by Camille Dungy
o Spring 2024 | I Sing the Salmon Home edited by Rena Priest
o Summer 2024 | Living Nations, Living Words Edited by Joy Harjo
o Fall 2024 | You are Here: Poetry of the Natural World, edited by Ada Limon
* Facilitated 5 poetry writing workshops
o Fall 2023 | Theme: Earth
o Winter 2024 | Theme: Water
o Spring 2024 |Theme: Air
o Summer 2024 |Them...
Click here for full text