County Invites Citizens to Submit Original Poems About Freedom

Leon County Government invites citizens to recognize Florida's upcoming Emancipation Day on May 20 by participating in "Poets for Freedom," a unique project featuring original poems on the topic of freedom. Highlighting local poets aged 18 and older, the program is organized by the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library System and will showcase submissions throughout the month of May. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 7. 

Florida Emancipation Day marks the first announcement of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in Leon County on May 20, 1865. Drawing inspiration from this Leon County holiday, Poets for Freedom invites citizens to voice what freedom means to them. The journey toward freedom that began on that day continues today in our community. Across the years and across the state — our past links us to our present and future.  

Poets for Freedom is in conjunction with the sixth annual “Created Equal: Stretching Towards Freedom, A Conversation about Florida Emancipation Day” on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The Created Equal event is hosted by Leon County, in partnership with The Village Square and Tallahassee Museum. RSVP to attend Created Equal by visiting www.LeonCountyFl.gov/CreatedEqual.   

To learn more about Poets for Freedom, visit: www.LeonCountyFl.gov/PoetsforFreedom. 

For more information, contact Michelle Ray, Learning & Workforce Services Manager, at (850) 606-2665 / RayM@LeonCountyFL.gov or Leon County Community and Media Relations at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.