Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Introduces World-renowned Poet Truth Thomas, Howard County’s Inaugural Poet Laureate

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Truth Thomas has been selected as Howard County’s inaugural Poet Laureate. In honor of National Poetry Month, Ball made the announcement during the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society’s (HoCoPoLitSo) Nightbird Reading at the 16th annual Blackbird Poetry Festival. Photos of the event can be seen here. Video of the event can be viewed here.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an active and vibrant literary arts community in Howard County. From our schools and gathering places, to our energized Downtowns and Main Streets, the arts are the heartbeat of our county, breathing life and meaning into our everyday lives,” said Ball. “I am thrilled to have the talented, terrific, transformative Truth Thomas serve as Howard County’s very first Poet Laureate. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and creativity to this new role, and I am confident as Poet Laureate, he will elevate poetry in the consciousness of Howard County residents.”

A singer-songwriter, poet and photographer born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Washington, D.C., Thomasstudied creative writing at Howard University and earned his Master of Fine Arts in poetry from New England College. The founder of Cherry Castle Publishing and creator of the “Skinny” poetry form, his collections include Party of Black, A Day of Presence, Bottle of Life, Speak Water and My TV is Not the Boss of Me. Winner of the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry, his poems have appeared in more than 150 publications including: Callaloo, The Newtowner, New York Quarterly, The Emerson Review, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South and The 100 Best African American Poems. His work focuses largely on matters of race and social justice, both nationally and worldwide. A former writer-in-residence for the HoCoPoLitSo, Thomas is currently a member of the Society’s Advisory Group.

“When I think about the blessing of being Howard County’s inaugural Poet Laureate, I celebrate most the opportunity to serve others through the arts–to honor the human dignity of all people. That is my literary prayer, to follow in the giant steps of great poets who have preceded me in that quest and—hopefully—leave a loving path for others to follow,” said Truth Thomas, Howard County’s Poet Laureate.

Ball first announced the launch of the County’s inaugural Poet Laureate program in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council and HoCoPoLitSo this past November. As the Howard County Poet Laureate, Thomas will serve as an ambassador for poetry, literature and the arts and contribute to Howard County’s poetic and literary legacy through public readings and participation in civic events. An honorary two-year position, Thomas will serve in this role from April 2024 through March 2026.

About the Howard County Poet Laureate Program

On October 24, 2023 Howard County Executive Calvin Ball approved the establishment of the position of Howard County Poet Laureate, to elevate poetry in the consciousness of Howard County residents and to help celebrate the literary arts. The program is administered in partnership between the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) and Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo).

The Poet Laureate is an honorary two-year position, in service to the community, and formally appointed by the County Executive, acting on a recommendation determined through an artistic and community panel selection process coordinated by HoCoPoLitSo. The Poet Laureate will not be considered an employee of Howard County nor of HCAC and will continue to have individual pursuits.

The next Poet Laureate will serve from April 2024 through March 2026 and will receive a stipend of $5,000 per year of service, paid in two equal installments of $2,500 at the beginning and end of the year. In addition, a budget of up to $500 per year is available for reimbursable expenses related to the Poet Laureate’s activities, to be paid at the end of each year.

The Howard County Poet Laureate Program is a partnership with the Office of County Executive Calvin Ball, the Howard County Arts Council, and the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society.