The Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia of the official poet of the District of Columbia. The Poet Laureate is officially appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
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First appointee
The poet laureate program was established in 1984 by former mayor Marion Barry. The first poet laureate was Sterling A. Brown, a native Washingtonian and winner of the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize he held the position until his death in 1989.
Current appointee
On May 14, 1999 Dolores Kendrick was named the second Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia. Kendrick hosts events throughout the city including a day devoted to African American poetry during Black History Month. She also developed and manages the Young Champion Poets Program which provides local young poets the opportunity to write and perform their own poetry.