Troy Posted January 9, 2012 Report Share Posted January 9, 2012 Sonia Sanchez Now Poet Laureate of Phillly From "Great Things Happ'nin'/ January 2012" Compiled and edited by Louis Reyes Rivera Louisreyesrivera@aol.com Sonia Sanchez Now Poet Laureate ============================= As of Thursday, December 29, 2011, Mayor Michael Nutter and the City of Philadelphia have installed West Philadelphia resident Sonia Sanchez as their first Poet Laureate. In his announcement, Mayor Nutter called Ms. Sanchez "the longtime conscience of the city." Throughout her vocation as such, the 77-year-old poet has geared her poetry as a tool for social activism during the culminating periods of both the Civil Rights and Black Arts movements. As well, the Harlem born poet has held teaching positions at eight universities, including her long-time residency at Temple University. At the induction ceremony, Mayor Nutter said, "Poetry is an extraordinary and powerful art form. Ms. Sanchez exemplifies the role a poet can play in helping to define a city and helping its citizens discover beauty." In her position, she'll be called upon to mentor a youth poet laureate and appear at Spoken Word and other poetry events at City Hall and at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Ms. Sanchez was quoted as stating that she seeks to explore what it means to be human in the 21st century. To her, that means promoting peace in self and others. One project that she has recently initiated is to gather haikus from her comrades of the pen (i.e., Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Louis Reyes Rivera, among others) for purposes of having them posted on a public mural in South Philadelphia. The theme is Peace! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterstar Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 That is so very wonderful. (Hi, Troy! Long time.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hey Water yes it is a longtime -- glad to see your name again! Unfortunately Lous Reyes Rivera, who write the above message, passed earlier this month: http://aalbc.com/authors/louis_reyes_rivera.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterstar Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Oh thank you, Bro. :-) So much wisdom is leaving this world. I can only hope those wise ones who have left in the phyical will continue to guide us from the other side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Waterstar I see no evidence of such guidance OK, it is too early in the morning for be to be so negative... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterstar Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 LOL Bro, it ain't neva too early or too late to be real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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