A self-described “recovering engineer,” a teacher and others have served as San Mateo County’s Poet Laureate — and now, the city is looking for someone new to fill the role.
The deadline to apply to become the city’s poet laureate has been extended to Jan. 22. The position marries civic participation and creativity; candidates must have lived in the county at least three years, must embrace the opportunity to engage in community service and must have published one or more collections of poetry, among other requirements, county officials said.
“Poets put words to our feelings and help to bring meaning to our emotions,” said David Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “We encourage newer poets with fresh ideas and established poets with their own unique voices to apply.”
It is expected that the poet laureate will contribute to the county’s poetry and literary legacy through public readings, engaging programming, and participation in civic events, according to the county.
Lisa Rosenberg, a former poet laureate, holds degrees in physics and creative writing and worked for many years in the space program and describes herself as a recovering engineer. Other poet laureates have worked as teachers and have authored books.
The poet laureate is a two-year position which includes a $5,000 yearly stipend. Up to $2,000 is available for programming over the two-year term.
The application is available on the county website.