The Richmond Arts & Culture Commission has selected David Flores as poet laureate and Sheila McKinney as youth poet laureate for the 2021-23 term.
This is the 10th year that Richmond has named a poet laureate and the first year the city has named a youth poet laureate. Each serves a two-year term.
The poet laureate role was created to help bring the appreciation of poetry, writing and the creative process to the people of Richmond through public poetry and open mic events and programs in participating schools and organizations. The poet laureate presents poetry at community events, works with Richmond youth to teach and create poetry, and acts as the spokesperson for the poetry community in Richmond.