Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisors Carole Groom and Warren Slocum
Subject: Appointment of Jorge Argueta as San Mateo County Poet Laureate
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution appointing Jorge Argueta to the honorary post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate for a two-year term from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024.
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BACKGROUND:
The tradition of naming a Poet Laureate began in 17th century England when John Dryden was first named to the post. The United States Library of Congress appointed an official "Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry" in 1937. In 1985, an Act of Congress changed the name of the position to "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress".
California was the first state to name a Poet Laureate informally and the position was codified by the State Legislature in 2001. A number of California counties and cities have followed suit and established the position of Poet Laureate, including the Bay Area counties of San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, and Santa Clara.
In April 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution establishing the honorary post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate for the purpose of promoting awareness and heightening appreciation of poetry and the spoken word throughout San Mateo County. To qualify as the Poet Laureate, an individual should be a San Mateo County resident of five years or more, demonstrate a commitment to reading and writing poetry, embrace the opportunity to engage in civic discourse, and commit to serve a two-year term in the post.
The San Mateo County Poet Laureate represents San Mateo County and the art of poetry through outreach activities related to poetry; will propose and lead a community project throughout their term; present appropriate works at a minimum of four selected County-sponsored events during the year, including events involving schools and youth; and will open th...
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