Currently filling this honorary position is writer Jennifer Bartell Boykin. As the city’s poet laureate, she’s charged with engaging the public through the literary arts.
What our poet laureate does
Along with readings and workshops, Columbia’s poet laureates have distributed “parking ticket” poems on car windshields, stenciled sidewalks with verse that is revealed when it rains, and organized poetry readings on the city’s busses.
About Jennifer Bartell Boykin
Boykin is the second poet to serve as poet laureate since the city created the position in 2014. Among her projects, she has organized teen poetry slams and Columbia’s first Soda City Poetry Festival in 2024.
An award winning educator, Boykin is also a librarian at Muller Road Middle School in Blythewood. She has published two books of poetry.
How you can get involved
Community engagement is key to a poet laureate’s work. The public is welcome to participate in programs, which you’ll find on the One Columbia calendar.
