The City of Alexandria Names Amy Young as its New Poet Laureate

Photo by Frank Cappello

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

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