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Santa Clara County Poet Laureate

CALLING ALL POETS

Apply for County Poet Laureate

The Poet Laureate is an honorary ambassador position, advocating for poetry and the arts in Santa Clara County through public readings and civic participation. The Poet Laureate will serve from January 2027-December 2028.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Residency: Must be a current Santa Clara County resident who has resided in the County for at least the past three years.
  • Expertise: Must be a published or recognized poet with a passion for community engagement.
  • Availability: Must be able to travel across the entirety of Santa Clara County for events.
  • Safety: Finalists must complete a background check to work with minors.

All applications will be submitted through SVCREATES online applications portal. bit.ly/SCCPoetLaureate

Applications open July 6, 2026.

Deadline to submit applications Friday, August 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Poetry Workshop for Interested Future Poet Laureate

Yosimar Reyes (2024-2026)

8th County Poet Laureate

Reyes draws inspiration in his work from his personal experiences as an immigrant from Guerrero, Mexico and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He is a former Lambda Literary Fellow and Undocupoets Fellow who has toured across the country delivering keynote addresses, writing workshops, and performing his one-man show, Prieto, a coming-of-age story about migration, sexuality and socio-economic struggle. Yosimar’s writings have appeared in multiple online journals and poetry compilations, including Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry, Somewhere we are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings, and the forthcoming UndocuPoetics: An Introduction.

To view the latest information, follow the Poet Laureate on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Poetry Events

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County Poet Laureate Position

The Poet Laureate post was approved by the Board of Supervisors in November 2008 to elevate poetry among Santa Clara County residents and to help celebrate the literary arts. The Poet Laureate acts as a resource for poetry and literary activities to the Santa Clara County Library District, represents the County of Santa Clara through outreach related to poetry, conducts presentations of appropriate works at local events, and participates at activities to celebrate Poetry Month in April.

The Santa Clara County Library District works in partnership with Santa Clara County and SVCreates for the County Poet Laureate program. SVCREATES administers this program in partnership with the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) and Poetry Center San José. The County Poet Laureate usually holds a two-year term, starting on January 1 and ending December 31. The current term expires at the end of 2026 as it was extended by one year by the County.

Works of Past Poet Laureates

Find short recordings of each prior County Poet Laureate reading their work on our YouTube page, opens a new window.

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