Brian Sonia-Wallace Appointed as Poet Laureate Ambassador
Los Angeles Appoints New Poet Laureate
Los Angeles has welcomed Brian Sonia-Wallace as its new poet laureate, as announced by Mayor Karen Bass last week. This appointment signifies a new chapter in one of the city’s most esteemed literary programs.
Sonia-Wallace, a nationally recognized poet, is celebrated for creating spontaneous poems on his vintage 1938 Remington typewriter, transforming ordinary spaces into arenas of creativity and connectivity. “My guiding vision is simple: a Poetry City, where every neighborhood has access to poetry as connective tissue,” he stated. “LA is full of poets! Why shouldn’t every coffee shop and bookstore have a poet in residence? There’s the possibility in this role to create a blueprint for that enduring ecosystem.”
The announcement coincides with the 30th annual celebration of National Poetry Month. Mayor Bass remarked on the importance of poetry in the community, saying, “Poetry belongs to every Angeleno, and Brian Sonia-Wallace has a remarkable gift for bringing people together through its power. I am proud to name him our next poet laureate and look forward to the inspiration and connection he will foster across the many communities that make up our great city.”
Sonia-Wallace was selected through a competitive citywide process and will serve a one-year term as a cultural ambassador for Los Angeles. His role will involve elevating poetry, enhancing accessibility to the arts, and engaging communities through public programming. City Librarian John F. Szabo emphasized the importance of the position, stating, “The poet laureate plays a vital role in connecting Angelenos to literature and to one another. We’re thrilled to welcome Brian Sonia-Wallace, whose innovative approach to poetry meets people where they are and invites them into the creative process.”
Established in 2012 as a collaboration between the Los Angeles Public Library and the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Poet Laureate program seeks to inspire civic dialogue and celebrate the cultural richness of the city through written and spoken word. The program has previously honored renowned literary figures, including Eloise Klein Healy, Luis J. Rodriguez, Robin Coste Lewis, and Lynne Thompson.
Daniel Tarica, the General Manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs, expressed enthusiasm about Sonia-Wallace’s appointment. “Brian Sonia-Wallace is an acclaimed poet and cultural worker who has an inspiring ability to bring poetry into the public square. His commitment to intercultural exchange, environmental and social justice, and LGBTQ+ rights will resonate deeply with Angelenos, connecting communities through a shared love of poetry. With Los Angeles’ next poet laureate in place, we look forward to celebrating the city’s rich history of poetry together.”
