KaNikki Jakarta is an award-winning Performance Poet who has toured the US and UK performing poetry. Jakarta founded, facilitated, and/or hosted 15 presentations in the last 17 years ranging from open mics, award ceremonies, conferences, and workshops. 

With over 26 years of writing and almost two decades on the poetry scene, Jakarta has opened for Jill Scott, Raheem DaVaughn, and Lyfe Jennings. She has authored three works of fiction, two poetry collections, a poetry cd, and a memoir. She aims to utilize her Public Relations/Marketing Degree and love for the arts to promote creative writing, reading of literature, and literacy with poetry. 

Jakarta is an advocate for the art of poetry and believes that positive poetry can connect people from all walks of life. She brings to the role of poet laureate a passion to create platforms of safe spaces to highlight the talents of other artists. Jakarta writes and recites what she calls “real life fiction.” She says, “If you think something I say on the microphone may change your life; you’re probably right.”

The City of Alexandria’s Poet Laureate program was established through the Office of the Arts to promote appreciation of poetry as an art form; to encourage creative writing and reading of all forms of literature; and to promote literacy through poetry.

Learn more about the Poet Laureate Program here.