Literary Programs
Celebrate National Poetry Month in the City of Alexandria
Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate, City of Alexandria, invites all Alexandrians to participate in National Poetry Month activities throughout the Month of April. Schools, local businesses, libraries, and recreation centers will promote poetry writing and reading, and encourage broad participation in the month-long celebration.
The Academy pf American Poets designated April as National Poetry Month to celebrate poetry and its ability to enrich everyday life. To learn more about the National Poetry Month and the activities celebrated throughout the country, visit www.Poets.org.
To learn how you can get involved in local poetry activities, email: poet@alexandriava.gov, or call Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Office of the arts at 703.746.5565, or visit: alexandriava.gov/Arts.
Poem in Your Pocket Celebration
Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate, City of Alexandria, will lead the “Poem in Your Pocket Celebration,” on Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum, (201 Prince Street). The formal program begins at 7 p.m. She will be joined by winning poets of the 2024 DASHing Words in Motion poetry contest, who will have their poems displayed inside the DASH buses and trolleys in April through August. 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.
Alexandria’s DASHing Words in Motion - Poems selected, Poets Named
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Transit Company have joined forces to host the 10th anniversary of Alexandria’s annual poetry contest “DASHing Words in Motion.” The annual contest has been celebrating poetry by writers 16 years or older who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria.
The winning poets were selected from 53 submissions. The poets are Nathan Brownback, Kacie Candela, Alex Carrigan, Meredith D’Amore, Peter Heimberg, Stephen Lally, Jonathan Lewis, and Jennifer Veech. Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate’s poem, along with the eight winning poets, will have their poems displayed inside the DASH buses and trolleys for the 2024 National Poetry Month (April) and will remain up until August. 2024 DASHing Words in Motion Winning Poems. To learn more about the 2024 DASHing Words in Motion poets, click here to view their bios.
"DASHing Words in Motion" launched in 2014 and has highlighted our regions poets and creative writers and has placed poetry on dozens of Alexandria’s buses each April to celebrate National Poetry Month. To read the past winning poems scroll down on this page.
For more information about other Office of the Arts’ programs and services visit their website or email poet@alexandriava.gov.
"DASHing Words in Motion" Winning Poets and their poems:
- "2023 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2022 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2021 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2020 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2019 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2108 DASHing Words in Motion"
- "2017 DASHing Words in Motion!"
- "2016 DASHing Words in Motion!"
- "2015 DASHing Words in Motion!"
- "2014 DASHing Words in Motion!"
Poet Laureate Program
Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate, City of Alexandria, VA
The City of Alexandria has appointed Zeina Azzam as Alexandria’s new Poet Laureate. The first Arab American to hold the title, Azzam succeeds KaNikki Jakarta, whose three-year term ends in April 2022.
Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. Her full-length poetry collection, Some Things Never Leave You, was published in 2023 by Tiger Bark Press. Her chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was released in 2021 by The Poetry Box, which nominated one of her poems for the prestigious Pushcart Prize (she garnered another Pushcart nomination the following year for another poem). Azzam's poetry is also published in over sixty literary journals, edited volumes, anthologies, and art exhibition catalogs. An active member of the Poetry Society of Virginia, she regularly participates in local and national poetry readings.
Azzam’s professional career includes 27 years at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University, where she was Director of Educational Outreach to K-12 teachers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She has also worked as an editor of academic and think-tank publications and serves as a mentor for We Are Not Numbers, a writing program for youth in Gaza. She holds an M.A. in Arabic literature from Georgetown University, an M.A. in sociology from George Mason University, and a B.A. in psychology from Vassar College. Visit: www.zeinaazzam.com
The Alexandria Poet Laureate program was reestablished in 2007, 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. Past incumbents have included Wendi Kaplan, Mary McElveen, Amy Young, Tori Lane Kovarik, Ryan Wojanowski, and KaNikki Jakarta.
Articles written by Zeina Azzam:
"The Wonder of Words" in Alexandria Times, January 5, 2023
"The Power of Poetry" in Alexandria Times, November 18, 2022
“What Is a Poet Laureate?” in Alexandria Times, June 23, 2022
Poetry by Zeina Azzam:
To Bring Just Near -- A Poem for Joseph McCoy
The Earth Speaks: Honoring the Lives of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas
Former Poet Laureate
KaNikki Jakarta
Poet Laureate 2019-2022
The Office of the Arts announces the appointment of KaNikki Jakarta as the new Poet Laureate. Ms. Jakarta replaces Wendi Kaplan whose term as Poet Laureate ends at the end of March.
Ms. Jakarta is an award-winning Performance Poet who has toured the US and UK performing poetry. KaNikki 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 2 decades on the poetry scene, KaNikki has opened for Jill Scott, Raheem DaVaughn, and Lyfe Jennings. She has authored 3 works of fiction, 2 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. KaNikki 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. Ms. 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 role of the City's Poet Laureate is 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. The Poet Laureate serves a three year term.
Poetry by KaNikki Jakarta:
- TODAY
- Patience Poet
- Beginnings
- A Community's Mission
- Absolution
- Alexandria Connected
- Alexandria The Beautiful
- Benjamin Thomas Thompson - Tale of Two Names
- Charles E. Beatley Library Birthday Poem
- DASHing Words Poem - ON TIME 2020
- EARTH MATTERS for Earth Day
- FREE-ISH
- Joseph McCoy Revamp
- Mother Alexandria
- NEVER FORGOTTEN, For the 1700 of Freemen's Cemetery
- POSSIBLE
- TAKING SOLACE IN SOLITUDE
- EVEN A TREE
Poet Laureate 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.
Past Poet Laureates:
- Wendi R. Kaplan, 2016-2019
- Ryan Wojtanowski, 2016
- Tori Lane Kovarik, 2013-2016
- Amy Young, 2010-2013
- Mary McElveen. 2007-2010
- Jean Elliot, 1979-1999
For additional about the Poet Laureate and other literary programs, email the Poet Laureate at poet@alexandriava.gov, call Cheryl Anne Colton at 703.746.5565 or email cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5565, Virginia Relay 711.