Join Current and Former Santa Clara County Poets Laureate for “More Good Talk” Poetry Reading and Q&A, Aug. 27

Poets interested in applying for 2018-19 Poet Laureate post encouraged to attend

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.—Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Arlene Biala, joined by former Poets Laureate Nils Peterson, Sally Ashton and David

Perez, will host “More Good Talk: Poetry & the Search for the Next Santa Clara County Poet Laureate,” for an evening of poetry on August 27, 2017, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., at Café Stritch, 374 S. 1st St. San Jose, 95113.

These literary artists will share poems from their new poetry collection “More Good Talk” and participate in a Q&A session to answer questions about the application process for the 2018-2019 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate. Poets interested in applying to serve as the next Poet Laureate are encouraged to attend.

“In my time as the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate, I've been honored to meet and share space with fierce, beautiful poets of our community,” said Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Arlene Biala, who was appointed to a two-year term in January 2016. “I've been blessed with meeting people who have tried their hands at creating poetry for the first time, who've shared stories about 'always wanted to write, but not sure I could.' We are rich in creativity, community, and literary expression. We are steeped in chaotic times, but creative expression empowers us to keep the path.”

During Biala’s term, she has led numerous poetry workshops and has brought a pop-up PoeTREE to many events and public spaces, encouraging people of all ages to write lines or short poems. She also published “spring mother tongue: Poetic Voices of Santa Clara County” which features 23 Santa Clara County poets ranging in age from pre-teen to septuagenarian.

Former poets laureate include Nils Peterson (2009-2011), Sally Ashton (2011-2013), and David Perez (2014-2015). During Peterson’s tenure, among several projects, he created a 100-line poem called “A Family Album, Santa Clara County, 2009.” Ashton led several projects as well and notably created “Poetry on the Move” that put poetry on VTA railcars and buses. Perez focused on youth arts education and outreach, teaching a poetry workshop series at elementary, middle and high schools and introducing poetry to the public via a Poetry Booth at high profile public events.

This month, the County of Santa Clara, SVCREATES and Santa Clara County Library District announced the opening of the application process for selecting the 2018–2019 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate. he application deadline is September 29, 2017, 5:00 p.m.

The Poet Laureate, an honorary post, works to elevate poetry in the awareness of Santa Clara County residents and to help celebrate the literary arts. The post was created by the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on November 18, 2008. The County works in partnership with SVCREATES to identify a nominee. The nominee is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the two-year post.

For more information or poet laureate application guidelines, please visit www.sccgov.org/poetlaureate or contact SVCREATES at [email protected] or 408-998-2787 ext. 204.

Poets interested in applying for 2018-19 Poet Laureate post encouraged to attend

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