Berkeley poets: apply to become next Poet Laureate

City of Berkeley sent this bulletin at 07/13/2023 05:00 PM PDT

July 13, 2023

SERVICES. RESOURCES. COMMUNITY.

News from the City of Berkeley

Berkeley poets: apply to become next Poet Laureate

The honorary position would be a creative ambassador for the city, collaborator with other artists, and would receive $10,000 honorarium over two years. Apply by September 1.

Artist Credit: Pancho Pescador - Wall mural "African Beauty" at Jeronimus Alley, Berkeley. Note this is part of a larger mural.

Poets, spoken word artists, and other literary artists living in Berkeley can apply to be Berkeley’s Poet Laureate, a champion of the City’s literary traditions and communities.

Berkeley residents' applications would be considered through a group review and evaluation process for the honorary position, which comes with a $10,000 honorarium.

The City’s Civic Arts Program, in partnership with the Berkeley Public Library, is seeking an experienced poet with deep ties to the city to serve in the position.

A two-step application process will begin with an online application, followed by an interview process for the second round.

The purpose of the Poet Laureate program is to:

champion Berkeley’s rich poetry, spoken word, and literary arts communities
honor a Berkeley poet to serve as a creative ambassador of the city
serve as an aesthetic voice and collaborator with the broader arts community
provide mentorship to develop literary artists
continue Berkeley’s historic tradition of free speech

Complete the online application to be the Poet Laureate by 11:59pm on September 1, 2023.

New, open process with creation of Poet Laureate Program

To be eligible, applicants must be current residents of Berkeley and at least 18 years old. For poets under 18, there is also the option to apply for the Berkeley Public Library’s Youth Poet Laureate program.

A thorough review by the selection panel will follow in October, comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds in the literary arts field located in the greater Bay Area. Finalist interviews will take place in November, and the Civic Arts Commission will make the final selection on December 6, 2023, at 6:00 pm. The two-year term will begin January 1, 2024.

Requirements of the position include:

Produce one (1) original poem inspired by or related to Berkeley
Coordinate at least one (1) public reading event per year (at least two—total—over two years)
Recite a poem at up to five (5) City and/or Library events per year (up to 10—total—over two years)
Meet Berkeley’s Youth Poet Laureate, with the goal of a continued mentorship
Participate in a Civic Arts staff-coordinated video recording of original poetry
Serve as a Selection Panelist for the next Poet Laureate selection process
If applicable, provide mentorship to the Berkeley high schooler participating in the statewide Poetry Out Loud competition

In addition to the position, the selected Poet Laureate will be awarded an honorarium of $10,000 for their two-year service term.

The honorarium will be disbursed in two installments. In January 2024, upon assuming the role, the appointee will receive an initial payment of $5,000. The remaining $5,000 will be awarded in January 2025, marking the halfway point of their tenure.

Celebrating poetry in Berkeley

The Poet Laureate pilot program is a joint project of the Berkeley Public Library and Civic Arts Program. Though a previous appointment has been made in the past, this is the first formalized, open selection process for the appointment.

This program’s development was sparked by the resignation of Berkeley's First Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesús González, who was appointed to the position in September 2017.

To develop the program with key staff from Civic Arts and the Library, an 11-member advisory committee made up of Bay Area literary artists (including González) convened to provide input in shaping the review criteria and service requirements.

Send questions or comments via email.

Apply for the Poet Laureate program before September 1 and share with literary artists in Berkeley.

Job openings with the City of Berkeley

cement front of 2180 Milvia street building with blue sky

We're looking for an Assistant Civil Engineer, a Mental Health Nurse, a Library Assistant, and others who reflect a portion of the breadth of services we provide to the Berkeley community.

The engineer position, which requires state licensure, will play a critical role in building city facilities, including community centers, pools, camps, and our waterfront.

The mental health nurse will provide direct services and nursing care management, both in the field and in our clinic.

The library assistant – which may be filled as a part-time, full-time or intermittent position – will serve patrons and support daily operations in our libraries.

In one of these or our other open positions, you’d join a team committed to serving our diverse community by creating a safe, accessible, culturally rich, environmentally sustainable, and healthy city. We strive to support local businesses, and respond quickly and effectively to neighborhood and commercial concerns.

Visit our job listings, which can be updated almost every week with new positions. You can also sign up for job alert emails to be notified when new opportunities in a selected category become available for you to apply.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Use survey, meetings to give input on plan to expand recycling, composting services

Berkeleyans can use a survey, virtual meetings, and in-person forums to give input, ask questions, and learn more about how the City can expand recycling and composting programs – and reduce landfill waste.

The survey will ask about topics such as:

Your experiences, difficulties, and suggestions with recycling or composting
Recommendations for outreach and education about reuse, recycling, or composting
Preferred language for communication

At the two public meetings, you'll hear an outline of the planning process and engage in discussions about the City’s waste management practices, challenges, and opportunities. You’ll help build a strategic plan for zero waste.

Complete the survey by July 31 at 5pm, come to the meetings, or participate however you can.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Summer music concerts in Berkeley parks: Reggae, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Kids Music, and more

Rainbow colored instrument at San Pablo Park.

Come out to any in a series of music concerts this summer that pair different music genres with activities for a variety of ages while being set in our beloved parks.