May 3, 2023
avery r. young, Chicago Poet Laureate, pictured at the Poetry Foundation. Photo by Patrick L. Pyszka, City of Chicago.
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CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CHICAGO POET LAUREATE AVERY R. YOUNG
Award-winning Poet, Youth Educator, Composer, Performer, and Activist
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, in partnership with the Chicago Public Library (CPL), the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Poetry Foundation, proudly named avery r. young as the inaugural Chicago Poet Laureate. An award-winning poet, educator, composer, performer, and producer, young’s work spans the genres of music, performance, visual arts and literature. He is a co-director of The Floating Museum, Cave Canem fellow, Leader for a New Chicago 2022 awardee, and performer with his band, de deacon board. With more than two decades as a teaching artist, he has mentored generations of young poets. His poetry and prose are featured in several anthologies and periodicals. In the foreword of his most recent book, neckbone: visual verses, Theaster Gates called young, “one of our greatest living street poets.”