“My goal with Poetry Lives Here was to get people from all walks of life listening to each other while participating in literary arts in a personal way,” says Ms. Tong, who created the Twitter account @PoetryLivesHere to further engagement and amplify the voices and cultures of a diverse representation of living poets.

“Nicole’s Poetry Lives Here initiative, as well as her overall commitment to the Poet Laureate Program, aligns so perfectly with ArtsFairfax goals to inspire community-wide exchange of ideas, stories, and culture throughout the County,” adds Linda Sullivan, President & CEO of ArtsFairfax. “Through our Poet Laureate Program, we want to show Fairfax County residents that poetry is just as diverse and vibrant as the communities they represent.”

The Fairfax County Poet Laureate Program is designed to raise the visibility of poetry by supporting a leadership role for a local poet to engage new audiences and create opportunities for poetry to be shared throughout the County. The Poet Laureate Program is a two-year appointment that results in a community service project and an original poem inspired by the poet’s experience, among other outcomes. Applications for the next Fairfax County Poet Laureate will open this June.

About Poetry Lives Here

As the inaugural Fairfax County Poet Laureate, Nicole Tong created Poetry Lives Here as a two-pronged approach to enliven local interest in contemporary poetry. In addition to the digital content created in celebration of National Poetry Month, Ms. Tong also partnered with George Mason University MFA poetry students to conduct a residency at the County’s Juvenile Detention Center. Together, these initiatives have raised Fairfax community awareness of living American poets and how they reflect the diversity of voices and cultures in this nation.

About ArtsFairfax 

ArtsFairfax is the nonprofit designated as the local arts agency for Fairfax County. Dedicated to the belief that arts are essential to a thriving community, the ArtsFairfax mission is to expand support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for Fairfax County’s more than 1.2 million residents. By offering informational, financial, and programmatic services, ArtsFairfax promotes the role of arts and culture to deepen social engagement, create a sense of place, and fuel economic growth. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) since 1964, ArtsFairfax provides these services to all who contribute to and experience arts in Fairfax County, and is funded in part by the County, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as corporations, foundations, and individuals.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Ms. Tong on Twitter @PoetryLivesHere or visit ArtsFairfax.org/Poetry. Engage with ArtsFairfax on Facebook and Instagram with #NPMArtsFairfax to share your favorite poet, poem, or reader.

Reader Schedule:

About Poetry Lives Here

As the inaugural Fairfax County Poet Laureate, Nicole Tong created Poetry Lives Here as a two-pronged approach to enliven local interest in contemporary poetry. In addition to the digital content created in celebration of National Poetry Month, Ms. Tong also partnered with George Mason University MFA poetry students to conduct a residency at the County’s Juvenile Detention Center. Together, these initiatives have raised Fairfax community awareness of living American poets and how they reflect the diversity of voices and cultures in this nation.

About ArtsFairfax 

ArtsFairfax is the nonprofit designated as the local arts agency for Fairfax County. Dedicated to the belief that arts are essential to a thriving community, the ArtsFairfax mission is to expand support for and access to arts and culture opportunities for Fairfax County’s more than 1.2 million residents. By offering informational, financial, and programmatic services, ArtsFairfax promotes the role of arts and culture to deepen social engagement, create a sense of place, and fuel economic growth.