In her unpaid role as Dutchess County’s Poet Laureate, Wilkerson will serve for a one-year term and bring poetry to the community through a series of readings and events.
“As Poet Laureate, through a series of poetry workshops and performances, I hope to empower communities to find their voice for their dreams, goals, and aspirations,” Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson was the recipient of the 2016 Dutchess County Executive’s “Artivist” Award; a 2016 Dutchess County Athena Award honoree by The Chamber Foundation, Inc.; the 2016 recipient of the Exempt Firemen’s Association Black Heritage Committee’s “Outstanding Community Service Award” for Extraordinary Contribution and Dedication; and the 2014 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Individual Artist Tier Grant awardee for Dutchess County, among others honors.
She was selected from 65 nominations by a panel of literary professionals and community members.
Wilkerson will kick-off her duties by presenting a poem at County Executive Marcus Molinaro's State of the County address at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
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