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The
City of Alexandria Names Amy Young as its New Poet Laureate
Photo by Frank Cappello
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On April 13, 2010, the City Council officially
appointed Amy Young as Alexandria's new Poet Laureate. In
her role as Poet Laureate Ms. Young will create programs to
foster an appreciation of poetry as an art form, to encourage
creative writing and reading, and to promote literacy through
poetry.
Ms. Young, a resident of Alexandria, has read,
studied, and written poetry since she was a child growing
up in Washington, DC. For the last 11 years, she has led the
Writer's Lab for 11- and 12-year-olds with learning disabilities
at the Lab School of Washington. She also has taught writing
workshops for learning disabled adults. Young has studied
poetry in George Mason University's Master of Fine Arts program
and has been trained to lead intensive writing workshops for
people from a variety of backgrounds
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Poet Lore, a prominent journal, recently published
Young's work, and Anukriti Sud Hittle, a visual artist in St. Louis,
is producing and selling collage paintings inspired by one of her
poems. A leading classical ensemble, the 21st Century Consort, will
perform the world premiere of Thomas Albert's Characters, a series
of Young's poems set to music, as the centerpiece of a special concert
at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in May.
Ms. Young will continue the work of Mary McElveen,
the City's former Poet Laureate. Her initial plans include developing
poetry and writing workshops for adults, including those with English
as their second language. And engaging youth through the creating
a poetry slam similar to the District's successful program. Ms.
Young is available for appearances to promote poetry and literacy
at school events, libraries, arts programs and citywide activities.
City Council re-established the Poet Laureate program
in 2006, and Mary McElveen was selected to fill the post. Prior
to McElveen's appointment, City Council last appointed a Poet Laureate
in 1979. Jean Elliott, an Alexandria resident, served as the City's
"Poet in Residence" until her death in 1999.
For additional information about the Poet Laureate
program or how you can include the Poet Laureate in your programs,
e-mail: poet@alexandriava.gov,
or call Cheryl Anne Colton, Cultural Arts Administrator, at 703.746-5565.
Mary
McElveen was Alexandria's Poet Laueate from April 2007 to 2010.
The
City would like to thank Mary for her service to the community.
For a selection
of Mary's Poetry, Click
Here.
VIRGINIA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
127 South Fairfax Street #128
Alexandria, VA 22314-3301
Fax: 703 535 8028
Email: vawriters@vawriters.org
website: www.vawriters.org
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