Celebrate Vallejo's Poetic Legacy: 10 Years Strong

A Decade of Poetic Unity

Saturday, July 26th, Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum

(Click Read More Below for Full Details)

It marks ten years since the appointment of Vallejo, California’s first Poet Laureate, Dr. Genea Brice, in 2015. This celebration will honor the legacy and ongoing contributions of our city’s poets laureate, including Jeremy Snyder, D.L. Lang, and our current co-poets laureate, Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann.

From its inception, Vallejo’s Poet Laureate Program has been a beacon of cultural enrichment, offering a vibrant array of poetry presentations, events, and activities. These initiatives have fostered emotional expression and communal unity and significantly deepened our cultural understanding, allowing us to appreciate the diverse perspectives and voices that make up our community.

Laureate Team Members

Dr. Genea S. Brice - July 28, 2015-Aug. 31, 2017

Dr. Genea Brice was named the Inaugural Poet Laureate of The City of Vallejo, CA. She has had the high honor of sharing poetry locally, nationally, internationally, and globally. It is her sincere delight and honest pleasure to use poetry as a vehicle for literacy.

D.L. Lang - Sept. 1, 2017 - Dec. 31, 2019

D.L. Lang is an internationally published poet whose work appears in 90 anthologies, including the Vagabond Lunar Collection, which is archived on the moon. She has authored 18 poetry books, including Fighting the Solar System (2024). She is a member of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade and co-founded Vallejo Poetry Society.

The Importance of a Vibrant Community

The Poet Laureate Program has brought diverse voices and perspectives to the forefront, enriching our community with cultural depth and artistic expression. The Poets Laureate engages audiences through public readings, local community events and festivals,

workshops, and collaborative projects that highlight and capture the uniqueness of Vallejo’s cultural heritage.

Laureate Team Member

Jeremy Snider - Jan. 1, 2020 - Dec. 31, 2023

As a bridge, poetry has connected individuals across different backgrounds and experiences.

Through the works of our poet’s laureates, the Poet Laureate Program has facilitated meaningful discussions on important social issues. Their poetry has entertained and served as a tool for addressing emotional and societal challenges. By fostering empathy and understanding, the program has significantly promoted social cohesion within our community.

Laureate Team Members

Jacalyn Eyvonne, Jan 1, 2024 - Current

Author of I Am Not An Inconsequential Word, Venting To Verse: How To Turn Anger Into Poetry, and The Unyielding Weight of Words. Published work includes Oakland Tribune, Wheelsong Poetry, United Kingdom; Hues of Spring, Nyra Publishers; World Healing Peace, Inner Child Press, and more. Editor, Youth Poetry Letters.

Kathleen Herrmann, January 2021 - Current

Kathleen Herrmann, Vallejo Co-Poet Laureate, teaches poetry writing to young people and reads original poetry at community events. Her poems have been published in various anthologies, and her first poetry collection, Cane In The Sand, is in progress. Kathleen writes about unexpected happenings and the ongoing struggle for social justice.

Youth Engagement and Education

One of the more significant impacts of the Poet Laureate Program is its role in shaping the future of poetry in Vallejo. Poets Laureate frequently collaborates with schools and youth organizations, introducing young people to the beauty and power of poetry.

These interactions inspire creativity, enhance literacy skills, and instill a lifelong love for literature and the arts. By participating in poetry workshops, readings, and competitions, young people develop critical thinking skills, build confidence, and gain a deeper appreciation for the arts. This engagement is not just about their academic performance but about fostering a new generation of poets and poetry enthusiasts in our community.

Event Highlights

Honoring past and present poets laureate:

Keynote Address/History of the Laureate Program

Featuring works by Dr. Genea Brice, D.L. Lang,

Jeremy Snyder, Jacalyn Eyvonne, and Kathleen Herrmann.

Laureates’ Legacy Panel Discussion:

Intimate conversations and audience dialogue with Poets Laureate sharing their journeys, reflections on their experiences, signature initiatives, and observations on Vallejo’s flourishing poetic landscape and visions for poetry’s role in strengthening community bonds and artistic expression in Vallejo’s future.

Why Your Support Is Needed

Your support is crucial to the success of the Poet Laureate Program here in Vallejo. By contributing to this event, you will help us continue to nurture and celebrate the rich poetic tradition that defines our community.

Your Support and Sponsorship of the Poetic Arts Will Cover:

The event production and costs.

Publication and Distribution of the Historical 10-year Anthology "A Decade of Poetic Unity Celebrating Vallejo’s Poets Laureate," ensuring that the works of our poets laureate are accessible to all.

Community Outreach: Promoting the event program and helping continue the laureate program's diverse work.

Promotion and continuation of local poet laureate youth and community activities.

Event Date and Location:

This historic celebration will take place on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at the beautiful Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum

734 Marin Street, Vallejo, CA

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm (PST)

Together, we can ensure that poetry remains a vital and cherished part of Vallejo's identity—inspiring future generations. Join us in making this celebration a resounding success and affirming the power of poetry in our community.