Trending...
- Governor Newsom honors fallen California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano - 104
- Governor Newsom marks historic expansion of California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, announces 16 new projects to film in the Golden State
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 7.2.25
San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and City Librarian Michael Lambert today announced that Tongo Eisen-Martin has been named San Francisco's Poet Laureate, the eighth artist in City history to hold the title. Eisen-Martin was appointed by Mayor Breed after being nominated by a nine-member Selection Committee comprised of past Poets Laureate, City officials, and members of the Bay Area poetry and literary community. He will succeed Kim Shuck, who served as San Francisco's seventh Poet Laureate.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Tongo when he was a teaching artist at the African American Arts and Culture complex, and I've seen his remarkable ability to spur creativity in youth and inspire them to find their own voice," said Mayor Breed. "I am excited to appoint him as the next San Francisco Poet Laureate and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in this role. His work on racial justice and equity, along with his commitment to promoting social and cultural change, comes at such a critical time for our city and our country."
Eisen-Martin is a poet and the founder of Black Freighter Press. His book, Heaven Is All Goodbyes (City Lights, Pocket Poet series), received a 2018 American Book Award, the 2018 California Book Award for Poetry, and was short-listed for the Griffin Poetry Prize.
More on The Californer
Born and raised in San Francisco, Eisen-Martin spent his childhood at the Western Addition Cultural Center, now the African American Arts and Culture Complex. In his vision for Poet Laureate, Tongo writes of organizing poetry circles in the Tenderloin, Bayview-Hunters Point and Sunnydale and recruiting and nurturing artists from San Francisco's marginalized communities.
"I and my poetry are an absolute product of every nook and cranny of San Francisco. It is the city's cultural institutions, chartered in ink, demonstration, spirit, and bloodline, that taught me how to relate to the world," said Tongo Eisen-Martin. "As deep into the various communities of the city as our poets have already brought the craft, I want to push even further into places where poetry has not yet permeated. Give poetry even more of a mass personality; as mass participation has always been the staple of what could be described as San Francisco futurism."
He is also an educator and movement worker, whose work has focused on incarceration and human rights. He has taught at detention centers around the country and at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University, where his curriculum on the extrajudicial killing of Black people, "We Charge Genocide Again!" has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His not-yet-titled second book in the City Lights Pocket Poet series will be released in the fall of 2021.
More on The Californer
As the Poet Laureate, Eisen-Martin will deliver an inaugural address at the San Francisco Public Library. He will also participate in community-based poetry programs that reflect and honor the diversity of San Francisco, and lead poetry-centered events in collaboration with the Library, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and community partners such as Youth Speaks, Litquake and others.
"I'm thrilled to see Mr. Eisen-Martin receive this recognition, as he is among the most exciting poets of a generation and we are so lucky to have him here in San Francisco," said City Librarian Michael Lambert. "He will be a remarkable and inspiring Poet Laureate, a perfect and outstanding addition to our city's long and flourishing literary tradition."
To qualify for San Francisco's Poet Laureate, applicants must be San Francisco residents and have a substantial body of published work, including at least one full length book and 20 or more published poems in established publications, print or online, over the past five years.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Tongo when he was a teaching artist at the African American Arts and Culture complex, and I've seen his remarkable ability to spur creativity in youth and inspire them to find their own voice," said Mayor Breed. "I am excited to appoint him as the next San Francisco Poet Laureate and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in this role. His work on racial justice and equity, along with his commitment to promoting social and cultural change, comes at such a critical time for our city and our country."
Eisen-Martin is a poet and the founder of Black Freighter Press. His book, Heaven Is All Goodbyes (City Lights, Pocket Poet series), received a 2018 American Book Award, the 2018 California Book Award for Poetry, and was short-listed for the Griffin Poetry Prize.
More on The Californer
- Heritage at South Brunswick Offers Immediate Townhome Appointments and Special Mortgage Incentive Fast-Moving Sales
- Sam Sammane wins Literary Titan Award for Republic of Mars, a haunting sci-fi debut on memory
- Fair Trade LA, The Tote Project, and Fair Trade USA™ Distribute 100 "Fair Care Packages" to Families Affected by Los Angeles Fires
- For Third Consecutive Year, ELEVATE Recognized as Star Performer & Major Contender by Everest Group
- NASA Collaborative Agreement for Supply of Thin-Film Solar Tech for Orbital Application to Advance Development of Thin-Film PV Power Beaming: $ASTI
Born and raised in San Francisco, Eisen-Martin spent his childhood at the Western Addition Cultural Center, now the African American Arts and Culture Complex. In his vision for Poet Laureate, Tongo writes of organizing poetry circles in the Tenderloin, Bayview-Hunters Point and Sunnydale and recruiting and nurturing artists from San Francisco's marginalized communities.
"I and my poetry are an absolute product of every nook and cranny of San Francisco. It is the city's cultural institutions, chartered in ink, demonstration, spirit, and bloodline, that taught me how to relate to the world," said Tongo Eisen-Martin. "As deep into the various communities of the city as our poets have already brought the craft, I want to push even further into places where poetry has not yet permeated. Give poetry even more of a mass personality; as mass participation has always been the staple of what could be described as San Francisco futurism."
He is also an educator and movement worker, whose work has focused on incarceration and human rights. He has taught at detention centers around the country and at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University, where his curriculum on the extrajudicial killing of Black people, "We Charge Genocide Again!" has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. His not-yet-titled second book in the City Lights Pocket Poet series will be released in the fall of 2021.
More on The Californer
- Shoot 'Em Up Classic Undeadline Coming to America & Europe for the First Time in New Collector's Set
- Exciting New Era of Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Innovation Spotlighted by Rebrand of Expanding AI Driven, Online Fan Engagement Company: SEGG Media
- FANATICS AND COMPLEX PRESENT <BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA> LEAGUE COLLECTION TO CELEBRATE THEIR COMEBACK
- Service Ninjas Debuts First-of-Its-Kind "Membership" Platform for Home Service Pros
- Project Management Institute San Francisco and TalentCheetah Inc. Announce New Strategic Partnership
As the Poet Laureate, Eisen-Martin will deliver an inaugural address at the San Francisco Public Library. He will also participate in community-based poetry programs that reflect and honor the diversity of San Francisco, and lead poetry-centered events in collaboration with the Library, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and community partners such as Youth Speaks, Litquake and others.
"I'm thrilled to see Mr. Eisen-Martin receive this recognition, as he is among the most exciting poets of a generation and we are so lucky to have him here in San Francisco," said City Librarian Michael Lambert. "He will be a remarkable and inspiring Poet Laureate, a perfect and outstanding addition to our city's long and flourishing literary tradition."
To qualify for San Francisco's Poet Laureate, applicants must be San Francisco residents and have a substantial body of published work, including at least one full length book and 20 or more published poems in established publications, print or online, over the past five years.
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- Jason Koch: Pioneering the Future of Real Estate Development in New Jersey
- Amid Trump's assault on public lands, California conserves over one million acres of land and coastal waters in just one year
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 7.7.25
- City of Long Beach to Upgrade Its Internet Infrastructure to Enhance City Network Reliability and Performance
- Groflex Named One of the Top 100 Manufacturing Startups in San Francisco by F6S
- BofA Directs Additional $1 Million to Los Angeles Nonprofits for Evolving Fire Recovery Needs
- Introducing LK Blue: The Cool-Girl Denim Brand That's Redefining LA Style Launches E-Commerce
- THINKWARE Announces Prime Day Deals on Best-Selling Dash Cams
- Zeta Sky Strengthens Cybersecurity Support for Ontario Businesses Facing Rising Identity & Complian
- Bach and Beyond: Cellists Return to the Beach for 2nd Annual Bethany Beach Cellofest
- Boleros de Noche presents "Marisoul y Los Hermanos Carlos" & "Bolero Soul" at The Ford
- Krispy Kreme, Inc. (DNUT) Investors Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit
- The 17th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota, September 12-20, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Official Poster Reveal
- NR7 Miner launches zero-cost USDT cloud mining service: daily stable income + referral rewards for double profit
- "The Grateful Dead — 60 Years in San Francisco" - Pantheon Media Launches New Podcast Series and Interactive "Hit Replay" App
- Deaths Spur Closures, but Troubled Teen Camps Must Be Banned, CCHR Warns
- Kiavi Expands Leadership Team to Further Bolster Construction Lending Growth
- Palmer Lake Wine Festival To Build Bridges in Small Mountain Community, Highlight Local Businesses
- Swim Up Hill Appoints Ambassador Lawson, Rep. Towns, and Banker Henderson to Board of Directors
- Paralympic Medalist Jamal Hill Launches Official Road to LA28 Campaign and $3M Corporate Fundraising Initiative