2009-2011 Sacramento Poet Laureate Crowned

Yesterday, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, outbound Sacramento poet laureate Julia Connor crowned our 2009-2011 poet laureate before a crowd of 150 or so arts junkies at the Sacramento Library Galleria.

Bob Stanley (president of the Sacramento Poetry Center and English/creative writing instructor at CSUS and UC Davis Extension, among many other things) has kicked off his term as Sacramento poet laureate with a series of poetry readings by area poets at local colleges and universities. Bob also wants to highlight local artist/writer/designer Richard Hansen and his Poems-For-All series. With his hand on a stack of books by e. e. cummings, Bob Stanley took a not-so-solemn oath to bring poetry and literary arts to Sacramentans in new and creative ways. We will all have to wait and see what other good things Bob has in store for us!

The celebration included lovely performances by j. Leah modern dance company, the American River College vocal jazz ensemble, and readings by Mary Zeppa and current UC Davis Extension instructors Emmanuel Sigauke and Susan Kelly-DeWitt, as well as performances by two local spoken word poets. A regional winner of the national high school Poetry Out Loud competition also gave a recitation.

Cheers to Bob and to all who came out to support SMAC's Poet Laureate program and to recognize the power and presence of the literary arts in Sacramento!