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Poets Laureate Fellowship

In June 2021, the Academy of American Poets announced its 2021 Poets Laureate Fellows; 23 individuals who serve as Poets Laureate of states, counties, and cities across the U. S. and lead public poetry programs in their respective communities in the project year. I am pleased to have been selected as one of these fellows.

For my project, I installed poetry displays countywide to beautify the community while making poetry accessible and available to all.

Lake County is filled with natural beauty, vast wildlife, and a rich literary community. But our county also suffers from poverty, high unemployment, high rates of drug use, limited medical resources, and low literacy. Our county has also been devastated by seven consecutive years of wildfire.

While some people move here to retire in a place exhibiting pastoral charm, many of us struggle to make a living. These struggles often lead to stress, depression, anxiety, and a general sense of hopelessness; these struggles may deter people from accessing art and literature. Sometimes we seek small moments or beautiful visions to lift our moods on any given day, to offer hope, to know life can be so much more than our struggles. I believe poetry can offer all of this, and to see it in our county will make a difference in our wellbeing while uplifting perspectives and increasing literacy.

Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College Poetry Box 2.jpeg
Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Poetry Box 3.jpeg
Blue Wing Saloon Little Poetry Library 2.jpeg
Tallman Hotel Poetry Box 2.jpeg
Clear Lake Campground Poetry Box 3.jpeg
Lower Lake Museum Little Poetry Library 1.jpeg

Displays are available at the following locations:

  1. Suites on Main - Poetry box, Kelseyville

  2. Fore Family Tasting Room - Poetry box, Kelseyville

  3. Clear Lake Campground - Poetry box, Clearlake

  4. Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce - Poetry box, Clearlake

  5. Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College - Poetry box, Clearlake

  6. Lower Lake Historical Schoolhouse Museum - Little poetry library, Lower Lake

  7. Harbin Hot Springs - Poetry box, Middletown

  8. Middletown Library - Poetry box, Middletown

  9. Middletown Art Center - Poetry box, Middletown

  10. Tallman Hotel - Poetry box, Upper Lake

  11. Blue Wing Saloon - Little poetry library, Upper Lake

  12. Main Street Gallery - Poetry box, Lakeport

  13. Studio 127 - Little poetry library, Lakeport

  14. Retirement Community - Poetry box and Little poetry library, Clearlake Oaks Keys, Corner of Everglade Blvd. and Pebble Way.

    Visit a Google map of the current poetry boxes and little poetry libraries HERE.

Thanks to the Friends of the Lake County Library, three new poetry boxes were crafted by Gary Maes and installed in the rest of the Lake County Library branches!

Lakeport Library in Lakeport

Redbud Library in Clearlake

Upper Lake Library in Upper Lake

This project presented the opportunity to establish and cultivate new community partnerships, and build on existing partnerships. Special thanks to the following:

  • Blue Wing Saloon

  • Clear Lake Campground

  • Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

  • Clearlake Oaks Keys Retirement Community, Club House, and Donna Mackiewicz

  • County of Lake, California

  • County of Lake, California Board of Supervisors

  • Fore Family Tasting Room

  • Gary Maes - Retired doctor, local poet, and talented and community-minded woodworker who created and built the poetry box displays

  • Harbin Hot Springs

  • Karen Pavone Photography

  • Kelseyville Business Association

  • Lake County Arts Council

  • Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College

  • Lake County Library

  • Lake County News

  • Littlefreelibrary.com

  • Lower Lake Historical Schoolhouse Museum

  • Main Street Gallery

  • Middletown Art Center

  • Nylander County Park Staff

  • Pak n’ Mail Printing Services

  • Poets Pamela Bordisso and Brenda Yeager

  • Studio 127

  • Suites on Main

  • Tallman Hotel

This project was made possible by the Academy of American Poets with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.