I applied to be the first Laureate because I am excited about utilizing the fervor akin to an evangelist to facilitate a "movement" that fosters a greater appreciation of the literary arts. I believe that there are so many new creative voices in the Piedmont that we have not had the opportunity to hear. During my tenure, it is my intention to identify and interface with the numerous community-based organizations that are engaged already with literary programs and hopefully collaborate on strengthening their efforts and assisting them with strategies that will enlarge and sustain their projects. I also envision the Laureate's role to assist emerging poets by creating programmatic venues and mentorship opportunities. Most importantly, I will attempt to cultivate and extend my own passion for using written and spoken word as a vehicle for teaching, nurturing, and celebrating literature.
I write poetry because it allows me to explore my world in new ways...learning what I need, sharing what I know.
My poetry has become a very functional tool for digging and harvesting the stories that continue to rise to the surface over and over again. It allows me to be spontaneous, playful, sometimes misbehaved, but also very disciplined. I write poetry because it allows me to use stories, metaphors, analogies, humor, sometimes magic to communicate with my greater world by providing a multitude of voices, unexpected language, and presence that helps me to cross boundaries and borders in an effort to use poetry as a bridge for building community, healing, and celebration.
I believe that our communities, our world need more creativity, innovation, and tolerance. By tapping into our collective creative expressions and practices I believe that the leadership, the mentoring, and the sharing has the potential to emerge and significantly make a difference as we discover the wisdom in sharing our stories, ideas, dreams. By doing so, we create greater sustainable creative wealth in all of our communities.
As Piedmont Laureate I will serve diligently to facilitate meaningful activities and projects that expand and celebrate appreciation for the literary arts.
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