(Photo by Mark Tabay - Lee speaking at Fresno City College)

California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick and the California Arts Council invite all Californians to write a poem about their city, town, or state, exploring what they love about it, what joy they find in it, what they would change about it, or what they hope for.  The project invites all Californians to write a poem about their state and share it. No matter the writer’s age, origin, gender, or background, all are invited to submit their work to the project.  Submissions may be published.  Read more about the Our California project here.  

California Poets in the Schools' Poet-Teacher Blake More has developed a lesson plan to encourage California students to participate in this public art project.  She will share her lesson plan during this First Friday event.  The lesson plan was developed for students however Blake will offer this as a generative instruction session.  Participants will create their own poem, while learning how to teach this lesson in the classroom.

Point Arena Poet Laureate, Blake More practices many disciplines including visual art, poetry, video, performance, and teaching. She is CalPoets Mendocino County Area Coordinator, a poetry teacher, host of a montly poetry & jazz reading series and two public radio shows: Be More Now on KZYX&Z FM Mendocino and Cartwheels on the Sky on KGUA FM. Learn more at bmoreyou.net.