This week, the office of County Executive Calvin Ball announced Truth Thomas’ reappointment for a second term as Howard County’s inaugural poet laureate. Thomas has been serving as the Howard County Poet Laureate since April 2024, on a two-year term previously due to expire in March 2026; Thomas will now serve another two-year term that will end in March 2028. In these past two years, coinciding with HoCoPoLitSo’s 50th anniversary celebrations, we have been deeply honored by the opportunity to come along as Thomas stepped into this new role, elevating and shaping it.

“We are thrilled to celebrate Truth Thomas’s reappointment as Howard County Poet Laureate, a testament to his extraordinary contributions to our literary community,” said Ryna May, EdD, Co-Chair, HoCoPoLitSo. “The Poet Laureate serves as a vital cultural ambassador, bringing the transformative power of poetry to diverse audiences, fostering creative expression, and giving voice to the experiences that unite us as a community. HoCoPoLitSo is honored to continue our partnership with the Howard County Executive and the Howard County Arts Council in championing the Poet Laureate program and ensuring that poetry remains a vibrant and essential part of the arts in Howard County.”

HoCoPoLitSo recently presented a short interview with current Howard County Youth Poet Laureate, Penelope Tofigh, in the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter, Rhyme & Reason. Penelope, a Junior at River Hill High School who was also the 2025 County and Maryland state winner of Poetry Out Loud, just can’t seem to get enough of poetry, and as we head into National Poetry Month, we hope you can join us for some of the many upcoming events in the second half of her term, which this month alone includes:

• Friday, April 10: The Authors Next Door at Residences at Vantage Point
  
• Sunday, April 12: A Poetry Tea at Elkridge Furnace Inn
  
• Thursday, April 23: Blackbird Poetry Festival at Howard Community College

Meanwhile, as a reminder, applications are open NOW for the next one-year term of Howard County Poet Laureate, for eligible applicants aged 14–21 and who either reside in or will be able to present at in-person events in Howard County. The next Youth Poet Laureate will serve from September 2026 until August 2027, and receives an honorarium of $500.

Eligible candidates may apply now by clicking HERE! The deadline for self-submitted applications is April 30, 2026. Full program guidelines can be found on the Howard County Arts Council grants homepage; for questions on the application process, please contact grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org, or by phone call to (410) 313-2787 during regular business hours.

Last but certainly not least, both County Poets Laureate will present at this year’s Blackbird Poetry Festival, to be held Thursday, April 23rd, again in partnership with and on the campus of Howard Community College. Truth Thomas will host a morning poetry writing workshop, centered on his original, “Skinny” poetry form; and Penelope Tofigh will read alongside the Festival headliner, Sarah Kay, at the afternoon Sunbird Reading and evening Nightbird Reading. The day-long event is open to the public, with attendance to daytime events free of charge, and admission to Nightbird available for purchase now, while seating lasts.

HoCoPoLitSo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN 52-1146948) registered in the state of Maryland, donations to which are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of fees and postage.

HoCoPoLitSo is supported in part by funds gratefully received from the Maryland State and Howard County Arts Councils; Howard County Government; Community Foundation of Howard County; Dr. Lillian Bauder; and from numerous other, generous individual and corporate contributors. Event proceeds support the live and recorded literary programs offered by HoCoPoLitSo for student and general audiences. The artistic contents and opinions expressed at HoCoPoLitSo events do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of HoCoPoLitSo’s grantors, donors, or individual Board or staff members.

The Bauder Lecture Series and Blackbird Poetry Festival are partnerships of HoCoPoLitSo and Howard Community College. The Howard County Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate Programs are a partnership of HoCoPoLitSo, Howard County Arts Council, and the Office of the Howard County Executive.