Literary Programs

The City of Alexandria’s Poet Laureate program was established 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.
Page updated on April 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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Upcoming Poetry Events

Poem in Your Pocket Celebration

Thursday, April 24 | 6:30 p.m. with a formal program beginning at 7 p.m. at the Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. 

Meet the new Poet Laureate and the winning poets of the 2025 DASHing Words in Motion poetry contest, who will have their poems displayed inside the DASH buses and trolleys in April. Limited seating will be available, so reservations are encouraged. If you wish to read a poem, or to make a reservation email poet@alexandriava.gov.

Current Poet Laureate: Maria Cristina Donoso

Cristi Donoso headshot

Maria Cristina (Cristi) Donoso is an Ecuadorian American poet, writer, editor, and translator. Her poems, essays, and stories have been published by or are forthcoming in Pleiades, Waxwing, The Journal, The Cincinnati Review, The Threepenny Review, Best Small Fictions 2024, and others. She is a former PEN/Faulkner Writer in Residence and previous editor of Folio Literary Journal and a finalist for the 2024 Akron Poetry Prize and the 2024 Gatewood Prize.

Born in Quito, she now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Cristi's work often explores migration, girlhood, grief, and motherhood. She loves to write about the role of art in personal and public life, and advocates for accessibility in educational, literary, and creative spaces. 

Cristi's professional career includes 14 years as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. After receiving her B.A. in French Language and Literature along with a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, she received a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. She also received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from American University, Washington, D.C.

About the Program

In 2004, then-Councilman Ludwig Gaines proposed the designation of a Poet Laureate for the City of Alexandria. In response, a steering committee of citizens and City staff was established to develop a protocol for selecting a Poet Laureate. On April 25, 2006, City Council received the proposal submitted by the steering committee. Following a public hearing on May 20, 2006, City Council unanimously approved the establishment of the Poet Laureate program.  

In 2007, The City of Alexandria's Poet Laureate program was reestablished 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. 

Former Poets Laureate

DASHing Words in Motion

Now in its 11th year, the "DASHing Words in Motion" is an annual contest held in collaboration between the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH). The contest celebrates poetry by writers 16 years or older who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria.

"DASHing Words in Motion" launched in 2014 and has highlighted our region's poets and creative writers and has placed poetry on dozens of Alexandria’s buses each April to celebrate National Poetry Month. 

This year’s competition saw 45 submissions from 21 talented poets. After careful consideration, seven poets were selected for their exceptional creativity, memorability, poem structure, and alignment to theme. DASH and the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts are thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s DASHing Words in Motion poetry contest. 

Past Winning Poets and Their Poems