ARIS KIAN BROWN NAMED NEW HOUSTON POET LAUREATE

Defender News Service

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Mayor Sylvester Turner has named the new Houston Poet Laureate: Aris Kian Brown. Brown is the sixth poet laureate and the youngest to be chosen.

“It is an honor to have selected Aris as the next Poet Laureate,” said Turner. “She represents Houston’s literary future with her prophetic poetry. She will continue the Poet Laureates’ hard work before her, inspire the City of Houston with her words and bring out the poetry in everyone. My heart is gladdened to see the Houston Poet Laureate program continue to thrive and become a part of my legacy as Mayor of this Arts City.”

“Poetry, language and building narrative power are all my life’s work,” said Brown. “As the next Poet Laureate, I am looking forward to being able to share my love for both community organizing and creative expression.”

“I am so pleased to join our mayor and Cultural Affairs Director, Necole Irvin, in congratulating Aris Kian Brown,” said Houston Public Library Director, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson. “We are excited to support Ms. Brown in engaging Houston’s diverse communities served by Houston Public Library through the exciting Poet Laureate program.”

Aris’ two-year term runs through April 2025. As Poet Laureate, she will work closely with MOCA and HPL to implement her Community Outreach Project, “Space for Us: Afrofuturism and the Poetic Imagination.” Brown will conduct a series of interviews with community members across Houston asking them questions like, “What do you hope Houston looks like tomorrow?” and then “stitch” a poem utilizing those answers, allowing everyone to see the poetry that is “already embedded in everyday people.”

Brown will also translate the fnished poem into the top spoken languages in the city.

Irvin, director of Mayor’s Ofce of Cultural Afairs, is excited about Brown’s community project.

“Aris will create a unique project that will speak to all residents of Houston, which aligns with our ofce’s goal of equity, inclusion and accessibility to the arts for all. Te project is one that complements the goals of the Houston Poet Laureate program as well, which is to make poetry accessible to everyone.”