What is a Poet Laureate?
The New Haven Poet Laureate selected in partnership with the City of New Haven Arts Culture & Tourism, acts as an advocate for poetry, culture, and the arts that represent the City. The Poet Laureate serves a term of two years and is encouraged to nurture appreciation of poetry and literature by conducting public readings, workshops, lectures and presentations in neighborhoods, schools, institutions of higher learning, and other public settings in geographically diverse areas of the city. The Poet Laureate receives an annual honorarium.
Qualifications
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Must live in New Haven
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Must be at least 18 years old.
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Be distinguished in the field of poetry as demonstrated through a body of work, published or unpublished.
Responsibilities
Foster public appreciation of and participation in poetry and literary arts activities. Compose orginal poetry for City events.
Term
The Elm City Poet Laureate Poet Laureate serves a two-year term and maintains New Haven residency during the term.
The Inaugural Poet Laureate
2023 - 2025
Sharmont (Influence) Little
Sharmont (Influence) Little is a poet, activist and actor. He utilizes spoken word poetry to deliver Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Influence is an educator and advocate for inner-city youth and has performed at Yale, Virginia State and Boston Universities, as well as a host of other colleges and public schools across the nation.
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He has performed at historic poetry venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Café and the Lizard Lounge. He is a six-time member of the Connecticut poetry slam team, Verbal Slap; Coach of the 2017 Verbal Slap and 2021 Yale university poetry slam teams. He has utilized poetry to speak on behalf of workers for Yale New Haven Hospital 1199 union in 2007, and in Washington DC to members of Congress for the Free Labor Choice Act. He is the creator of Influence A Life LLC, a curriculum based program teaching coping skills, social skills, and conflict resolution. He lives by his motto: Influence a Life every day; it’s just a way of living.