Poet Laureate

The City of Berkeley’s poet laureate program honors a Berkeley-based poet, spoken word, or other literary artist to serve as a creative ambassador of the city.

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;
• have the poet serve as an aesthetic voice and collaborator with the broader arts community;
• provide mentorship to burgeoning literary artists;
• and continue Berkeley’s historic tradition of Free Speech.

Current poet laureate

The 2026-2027 Poet Laureate of Berkeley is Hanan Masri.

Born of war and gardens, Hanan Masri is honored to be an ambassador and devotee to poetry and service learning. A Berkeley teacher for nearly 3 decades, she’s relished the opportunity to support young people in finding their creative voice, mostly at her school site of 25 years, Berkwood Hedge, the first racially integrated school in Berkeley. A certified herbalist and nutritionist, her work explores themes of land as an extension of ancestral longing, particularly the mitochondrial haunt of her mother's Palestinian-Lebanese lineage. Finally, Hanan is cofounder of High Road Scholars, an education engagement business offering programming around nature, indigenous cultures around the world, the arts, and movement for youth.

As our current Poet Laureate, Hanan's two-year term is from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.

Applications open once every two years

Applications are currently closed. The next application period will open in 2027. Read the program guidelines to learn more about the application process.

To be eligible, you must be a Berkeley resident and at least 18 years old. Youth poets can apply to be Berkeley Public Library’s Youth Poet Laureate.

A panel of experienced volunteers will review submissions and select finalists. The panel will interview the finalists in order to put forward an appointee for the Civic Arts Commission's approval.

The panel will base their selection on set criteria, including literary practice and experience, community and civic engagement, and performance and presence.

Role and expectations

The 2026-2027 Poet Laureate will receive a $5,000 honorarium for their two-year service term. The Poet Laureate is required to complete an original poem inspired by or related to Berkeley, coordinate at least two public readings, recite poems at City or Berkeley Public Library events, and act as mentor for Berkeley’s Youth Poet Laureate.

Past poet laureates

• 2024 – 2025: Aya de León
  Selected through Berkeley’s first competitive Poet Laureate process, Aya de León organized public readings in partnership with the Berkeley Public Library and local arts organizations, including events at the Bay Area Book Festival and La Peña Cultural Center. She recited at City and community events, mentored Youth Poet Laureates, and advanced initiatives centered on climate justice, cultural organizing, and collective liberation. She taught courses at UC Berkeley, such as ‘How do Black people get free?’ and ‘Fiction for the Folks’ a companion course to Poetry for the People, reflecting a longstanding commitment to community-based literary practice.
• 2017 – 2022: Rafael Jesús González
  Appointed as Berkeley’s first Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesús González established the foundation for the role, shaping its early direction through public readings and civic engagement. During his tenure, he presented poetry at community and city events, using his platform to address themes of justice, migration, and speaking truth to power. His service informed the development of Berkeley’s formal Poet Laureate program.