Poet Laureate Reception Remarks
September 23, 2024
Good evening, everyone. The First Lady and I are honored to join you in celebration of the arts and culture community as we thank the Poets Laureate past and welcome a new voice into the fold. Thank you to Oregon Humanities, the Oregon Cultural Trust, and the Oregon Arts and Culture Program staff for their work in organizing this gathering.
In addition to Oregon's newest Poet Laureate, Ellen Waterston, I'm grateful that we have Oregon Poets Laureate Paulann Peterson and Kim Stafford with us this evening as well as Oregon's 10th Poet Laureate, Anis Mojgani (AH-neess Mozh-GAH-nee), who we just had the pleasure of hearing from.
Recognition of Anis Mojgani:
I'd like to thank Anis (AH-neess) for his extraordinary service as our most recent Poet Laureate, serving during an unprecedented time in our state. His tenure spanned some of the most challenging years in our state's and nation's history, when maintaining community cohesion was imperative to our ability to get through the difficulties we faced.
From his studio window to the Oregon Leadership Summits, through the Tele-poem telephone line and on the page, he found ways to bring people together even when they couldn't physically sit in the same room.
His laureateship built connection at a time where Oregonians hungered for it, and he created new spaces and ways for dialogue that will continue on. Anis, thank you for truly representing Oregon and poetry. Thank you for your mentorship and inspiration to those who follow you.
Introduction of Ellen Waterston:
I'm always appreciative of all the volunteers who serve in a variety of ways to support the work of the state. I'd like to specifically thank the Oregon Poets Laureate Recommendation Committee, several of whom are here tonight, for their thoughtful work in reviewing all the Poet Laureate applications. Thank you!
I am excited about our new Poet Laureate, Ellen Waterston, who stands out for her commitment to community engagement, her focus on bringing different parts of our state together, and her notable ability to describe the moments, places, and people that make Oregon special.
This year has been a banner year for Ellen Waterston. In recognition of her work as a poet, author and literary arts advocate, in February she received Soapstone's Bread and Roses Award, and, in April, the Stewart H. Holbrook Award.
Among other accomplishments, Ellen has founded two literary arts nonprofits and was instrumental in creating the OSU Cascades Low Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing where she serves on the faculty.
All this while writing award-winning poetry and nonfiction about Oregon and the West and, most particularly, about the people and places in the high desert region she holds dear.
I am eager to see how she will apply her talents to serving the state in this unique role and I hope you will join me in supporting her work over the next two years.
Please join me in welcoming Oregon's 11th Poet Laureate, Ellen Waterston!